Dolla Murder Suspect’s Bail Raised To $5 Mil, Lawyer Claims Self-Defense

 •  XXL Magazine  •  by XXL Staff  •  34 Comments

The man suspected of killing Atlanta rapper Dolla acted in self-defense, according to his lawyer, reports the Los Angeles Times.

Dolla, whose real name is Roderick Burton II, and suspect Aubrey Berry allegedly first feuded at an Atlanta club, where Burton and his crew beat up Berry. The two then reportedly had a chance encounter last Monday (May 18) in the restroom of a PF Chang’s restaurant in L.A. Dolla verbally threatened Berry, following him to a parking lot where he reached for his waistband, prompting Berry to shoot at him. However, Dolla was unarmed at the scene.

“[Berry] perceived that his life was in danger,” said Howard R Price, Berry’s attorney. “At worst it’s a manslaughter case, at best it’s a case of self-defense.”

The investigating police differ in their opinion of the incident. “Our prosecutors believe the evidence was sufficient for a murder filing,” said a spokesperson for the L.A. County D.A.’s office. “We try our cases in the courtroom, not on the sidewalk.”

Berry, who faces one count of murder and two counts each of assault with a firearm, will be arraigned on Friday (May 22). His bail has been increased from $1 million to $5 million.- Devin Chanda

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  • Pierzy

    Is this the first time a suspect in a rapper’s murder was actually arrested? I think so…

    • http://tonygrands.blogspot.com Tony Grand$

      Yo, P.

      Nah, some dude Midwest was killed in his house & the police arrested him. Not too long ago actually. Somebody on the thread will know about it, I’m sure.

      • http://tonygrands.blogsppt.com Tony Grand$

        *in the Midwest*

        But, usually those guy’s are on some ninja type. This cat was brazen; he didn’t care or wanted to make a tremendous statement. $5 million worth of statement.

      • jbird

        I’m from the MidWildWest too Tony G$. What city was this and how long ago? I’m sure I prolly know bout it but not ringing any bells. But don’t forget bout my Stack Bundles that got shot in Redfern Projects. That was June ’07 in Far Rock, NY.

        • http://tonygrands.blogspot.com Tony Grand$

          Whatitdo, jbird.

          From what I remember, it was maybe 2 months ago. It was some local dude in maybe Tennessee or something, but he wasn’t nationwide yet.

          He was @ the pad with some of his dudes, & one of the cats tried to “rob” him & killed him in the house. Wait, he claimed he had to get his cel out of his car, came back in shooting. Can’t think of his name, though.

          One time caught him because the cats that were there weren’t hurt, judt the one rap dude.

        • jbird

          29-E got shot in Seattle a couple months ago. Only know him cuz he was white. ha. But I don’t listen to a lot of cats that ain’t lyrical and got a story. Check Stack Bundles. That’s the most lyrical ‘Gorgeous Gangster’.

      • Pierzy

        What up dudes…

        I was kind-of kidding and referring to B.I.G. & ‘Pac but, despite the “Stop Snitchin’” thing going on, I like that somebody actually did get hemmed up.

        • http://tonygrands.blogspot.com Tony Grand$

          Yeah P, the scary part is that dude probably wanted to get caught. He thought his freedom was worth seeing to it that that kid never breathed again.

    • ko

      You either smoke or you get smoked…If your a gangsta or wanna be gangsta be prepared for gangsta shit to come your way, you can’t cry over spilled milk now.

    • beaver

      hell yea..
      they never had a suspect 4 pac’s, bigs, jam master jay’s, or mac dre’s murder..
      this is a 1st..

  • http://xxlmag.com basher roth

    yea i think so too.maybe they’ll claim he’s behind all the murders in hiphop.

  • jbird

    Dolla lucky he made it to LA. If I was Berry I woulda found Dolla in ATL and made some loose change out his ass. That’s 2 quarters, 3 dimes, 2 nickels, and 10 pennies. So this brings to question what is all the fighting for? Do we have troops in Afgan and Iraq fighting for us to fight each other? What such a redundant question I post to future commenters. No respect for peeps who wanna fight then get shot!!

  • SOUTHSIDE A-TOWN

    sad story…

  • PARIS PERSHUN

    THATS SOME CRAZY SHIT…. WAS THE NIGGA STALKING DOLLA….. YOU GET YO ASS BEAT IN ATLANTA AND END UP IN A RESTAURANT IN L.A WITH THIS NIGGA…..AND WHERE THE FUCKIN CAMERAS…. I KNOW A UP-SCALE ASS RESTAURANT IN L.A. GOTTA HAVE CAMERAS…… THAT NIGGA STORY DONT MEAN SHIT….. $5 MILLION BAIL… THAT NIGGA AINT GETTIN OUT NO TIME SOON!!!!

    (LEANS BACK AND TURNS “ALL ABOUT THE BENJAMINS” WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY THE FUCK UP))

  • DEE

    JIM JONES NEXT BETTER LEAVE THE STREET ALONE THEY SAY THEY WANT BETTER LIFES WELL U HAVE THE MONEY WHAT YA!! WAITING 4

  • http://www.myspace.com/emcdlthemusicprofile EmCDL

    Damn dude is a stalker. Dudes nowadays can’t take an ass beating…always gotta use a tool. Let the shit go mayne you still alive! You should’ve just beat his ass with ya fists! Good luck getting that $5 mil…

    • ThaKemizt

      Real talk my nigga… Like Big said, “Damn, shit done changed…”

    • me

      Why does it say Burton and his crew and not just Burton? Fight by yourself that’s what men do! But still I don’t think guns should ever be involved period. Guns are for cowards! Your right use your fist one on one.

  • El Tico Loco

    Interesting topic on Big’s born day.

  • detroit

    u talking bout BLADE ICEWOOD from the d
    dey tried once and it was in his crib 7 times witta K he survived 2 see another day but dey caught him and killed him at a car-wash in his range

  • brand-new

    i never knew that they could raise your bail

    • $ykotic

      Now you do.

  • BeerGangsta

    Fucker grow up! Ain’t nobody scared of nobody. This is what happen when you won’t a Rep. Come up mission! I hope Fans learn from this bullshit.

  • I GO BY YUNG

    Man I hope dat niqqa dies in jail, I hope dey qive him life in prison I swear if I were to see dat niqqa Berry I will kill him myself I don’t care if I qet life…

    R.I.P DOLLA WE MISS ND LOVE YA HOMIE

  • mssea

    First I would like address Dolla’s(roddy) family. I am so sorry for your loss I understand your pain and God is definitely with you.
    I don’t believe for one second this Aubrey Berry guy felt threatened and if he did. Why didn’t he wait until they left? He felt that this was the only way to resolve an issue. To kill another person yeah right. I call it first degree cold-blooded murder not manslaughter and definitely not self defense. You don’t shoot someone in the back if it’s self-defense. They arrived in the same city went to the same restaurant and went into the parking garage at the same time. Yeah right that guy killed him purposely. It doesn’t take a genius to figure it out. What are the chances of all of that happening very slim. No one deserves to be gunned down like an animal.

  • Vicious Seiger

    The Sad, sad games people play. Life is not a movie and Dolla according to this play of events might have been alive if wasn’t trying to pull someone’s hoe card. It makes me think of ppl I had beef with that after some time had past we had no issues and in some cases became friends with [not closest friends but cats you don't mind being around]. That’s part of growing the fuck up. You learn to put childish things & issues to rest and concentrate on bigger things. It’s like that old Nas song “I’m into Big Things”, I don’t have time for those high school gym class beefs. It’s tragic that this is most likely going to be end of TWO lives.

  • mario

    To clear up some things, Dolla and Berry’s incident in Atlanta occured while Dolla was with some Mansfield Crips; it was over a stripper. Berry is licensed to carry but left his gun in his car. Berry is a graduate of Clark Atlanta University and is a party promoter in Atlanta. He was in LA at PF Changs not to stalk Dolla, but to talk to a club owner about a BET Awards after party. Allegedly Dolla was with Mansfield Crips at PF Changs and told Berry that he was on their turf, and Dolla was supposed to kill Berry for a higher rank in the gang, but due to him being unarmed the likelihood of that is in question. After Berry shot Dolla he fled to the airport basically out of shock, hoping to fly home to his family. There have been reports that Dolla was involved in an altercation on the flight to LA but it did not involve him and Berry. This is a very unfortunate event on Dolla’s behalf if that sliver of his story is true, and it is a very unfortuate event on Berrys behalf due to the fact that he had never been in an criminal trouble, has his degree and is licensed to carry a weapon but felt his life was in danger. He wasnt the type of person, a stoned faced killer with a grudge, that the media is painting him out to be now that the Atlanta story has been confirmed; it happened at Platinum 21 by the way. He was actually the opposite, mellow and laid back, but in this day and age when a license to carry is almost as necessary as a license to drive, you never know when that one time is when you will have to react out of survival instinct. Dolla reached for his waistband, might have been going in his pocket or scratching himself, and Berry reacted out of fear. I mean any sensible person who has a license to carry, but doesnt, and the one time he doesnt carry it he gets jumped by dudes because of something that occured over a stripper; of course after that day youre probably say to yourself “Im carrying this at all times now”, and being that the strip club incident happened on the 13th I believe, a week ago, it was probably still on his mind not to leave his gun elsewhere but his holster. He wasnt out to kill Dolla or get revenge, in the valet area he was trying to get the valets to hurry with his car before it got out of hand, but its unfortunate that it did.

  • Godwin-Williams

    This is a very sad event that took place. My heart and prays goes to the Dolla and Berry Family. I personally know A.B, he’s a very Kool Dude, very respectful, non- confrontational, fun to be around kinda guy. He’s not the type that looks for trouble. I believe he was there on business, and life took it’s course. we can say he shoulda , coulda done a lot of things, but i believe it was Dolla destine with the Lord he don’t make no mistakes. It’s sad but it’s life. Berry ask for forgiveness and for give yourself, old your head up and know trouble don’t last always, and always remember PRAY CHANGES THINGS, NO MATTER WHAT IT IS…..

  • oh boy

    Its time to tell the truth about the Rapper Dolla and Aubrey Berry. Please do not question how I know this information, you can choose to withhold this information or be an outlet for this source. Aubrey Berry graduated from Clark Atlanta University last year, he has a perfect credit score, and absolutely no Pryor convictions.

    On May 13th Aubrey Berry went to Platinum 21 ( a strip club in atlanta ) to celebrate his freind coming to Atlanta for the first time. Dolla was with his immediate affiliates ( Mansfeild Crips – Gang ), he persued the same girl Aubrey was dancing with which led to a verbal dispute. Aubrey Berry was?nt giving up that easy, but little did he know the Dolla and his Crip freinds wanted more than just a dance that night, they wanted a fight.

    Aubrey Berry is liscensed to carry a hand gun but asumed the night would be silent so he left it in the car before entering the strip club. Dolla and about 5-7 affiliates rushed toward Mr. Berry and began to jump on him by himself. Aubrey covered his face as much as possible and fell to the ground. It wasnt long before the bouncers started clearing everyone out. Dolla and his freinds started taunting Aubrey Berry with Crip gang signs and blue rags.

    The cops escorted Mr. Berry to his car so he can get to safety. The night ended. Early saturday afternoon, Aubrey Berry left the gym early to go meet with the club owner in LA so he can do a huge party. He went to PF Changs monday with his point of contact in LA to discuss this party, and then thats when it all went down hill. Dolla walks in with 3 of his crip gang members and started to eyeball Aubrey and taunted at him saying ? your on our turf now ?.

    Dolla got on the phone and called for backup, and within 3 minutes the restaurant was filled with the Mansfeild Crip gang members ready to kill Aubrey Berry. Mr. Berry quickly rushed out of the restaurant scarred for his life as they followed close behind him. Dolla and 3 other gang members approuch Aubrey and said ?we are going to kill you? Aubrey tried to difusse the situation by explaining to them that he doesnt want any problems, they began to reach for there waist with one hand under there shirt, at this point Aubrey Berry was saying to himself ?they are going to kill me? Mr. Berry was able to remove his 9mm from his holster before the others and get a close shot at Dolla, unfortionatly he was to close to aim anywhere else but his head.

    Aubrey felt his life was threatened in another city by gang members so he protected himself. I confirmed with other gang members that Dolla was going to kill Aubrey Berry so he can get a higher rank in the street gang notoriously known as the Mansfeild Crips. This was an act of self defense and the LAPD is going to withhold the evidence, they wont release the video tapes to Aubrey?s Lawyer nor will they investigate the gang violence. Aubrey Berry was in a state of panic mode so he fled to the airport scared for his life in a big city he knows nothing about, he tried to purchase a plane ticket andrun home to his mom but the police found a man whom fit the description of the shooter, and sure enough it was Aubrey Berry.

    This is the truth, all of this information is 110% accurate. You can choose to use it or you can throw it away but Aubrey Berry?s life is on the line, please help serve justice and peace. Imagine if this was your son or nephew in this situation.

  • oh boy

    Its time to tell the truth about the Rapper Dolla and Aubrey Berry. Please do not question how I know this information, you can choose to withhold this information or be an outlet for this source. Aubrey Berry graduated from Clark Atlanta University last year, he has a perfect credit score, and absolutely no Pryor convictions.

    On May 13th Aubrey Berry went to Platinum 21 ( a strip club in atlanta ) to celebrate his freind coming to Atlanta for the first time. Dolla was with his immediate affiliates ( Mansfeild Crips – Gang ), he persued the same girl Aubrey was dancing with which led to a verbal dispute. Aubrey Berry was?nt giving up that easy, but little did he know the Dolla and his Crip freinds wanted more than just a dance that night, they wanted a fight.

    Aubrey Berry is liscensed to carry a hand gun but asumed the night would be silent so he left it in the car before entering the strip club. Dolla and about 5-7 affiliates rushed toward Mr. Berry and began to jump on him by himself. Aubrey covered his face as much as possible and fell to the ground. It wasnt long before the bouncers started clearing everyone out. Dolla and his freinds started taunting Aubrey Berry with Crip gang signs and blue rags.

    The cops escorted Mr. Berry to his car so he can get to safety. The night ended. Early saturday afternoon, Aubrey Berry left the gym early to go meet with the club owner in LA so he can do a huge party. He went to PF Changs monday with his point of contact in LA to discuss this party, and then thats when it all went down hill. Dolla walks in with 3 of his crip gang members and started to eyeball Aubrey and taunted at him saying ? your on our turf now ?.

    Dolla got on the phone and called for backup, and within 3 minutes the restaurant was filled with the Mansfeild Crip gang members ready to kill Aubrey Berry. Mr. Berry quickly rushed out of the restaurant scarred for his life as they followed close behind him. Dolla and 3 other gang members approuch Aubrey and said ?we are going to kill you? Aubrey tried to difusse the situation by explaining to them that he doesnt want any problems, they began to reach for there waist with one hand under there shirt, at this point Aubrey Berry was saying to himself ?they are going to kill me? Mr. Berry was able to remove his 9mm from his holster before the others and get a close shot at Dolla, unfortionatly he was to close to aim anywhere else but his head.

    Aubrey felt his life was threatened in another city by gang members so he protected himself. I confirmed with other gang members that Dolla was going to kill Aubrey Berry so he can get a higher rank in the street gang notoriously known as the Mansfeild Crips. This was an act of self defense and the LAPD is going to withhold the evidence, they wont release the video tapes to Aubrey?s Lawyer nor will they investigate the gang violence. Aubrey Berry was in a state of panic mode so he fled to the airport scared for his life in a big city he knows nothing about, he tried to purchase a plane ticket andrun home to his mom but the police found a man whom fit the description of the shooter, and sure enough it was Aubrey Berry.

    This is the truth, all of this information is 110% accurate. You can choose to use it or you can throw it away but Aubrey Berry?s life is on the line, please help serve justice and peace.
    R>I>P> Dolla Its so sad u gotta take a Dirt Nap!

  • killa_kam

    WHEN KEEPING IT REAL GOES WRONG, TRIED TO IMPRESS HIS BOYS AT A STRIP CLUB AND WHEN THEY TRIED TO PUNK LIL HOMIE AGAIN HE GOT THAT “GOON BE GONE” PUT TO HIS HEAD. NOW HOW MANY TIME YOU THINK THIS MAN IS GOING TO TAKE AN “L”.

  • SHA EMPERESS

    DOllA,
    PLEASE HUG MY BABY…LOYALTY LOVE…AND TELL HIM THAT HIS MOMMIE LOVES HIM…AND I WISHED I COULD’VE HUGGED HIM MYSELF…”MY LOYAL”

    HEAVEN IS MUCH BETTER THAN THIS PLACE.

    I KRY. DEAR GOD.

    YOUR BIG SIS..
    SHA E

  • nina

    can someone killaubrey if they are scared of him and say they were scared of him and then say self defence ? i believe aubrey is a liar from the beginning to the end. now ask yourself what if someone was scared of aubrey do the have the right to kill him

  • nina

    aubrey berry gun was not licenced to carry where he killed dolla