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Aubrey Louis Berry Claims Self-Defense in Dolla Shooting

by Amy Judd | May 22, 2009 at 10:48 am

3897 views | 3 Recommendations | 11 comments

Aburey Louis Berry, the man who shot Atlanta rapper Dolla, real name Roderick Anthony Burton, claims he did it in self-defense.

"If somebody has a reasonable perception that he is in danger of bodily injury or death, he has a right to defend himself," Howard K. Price, lawyer for Aubrey Louis Berry told MTV News on Thursday.

Berry said he feared for his life at the Beverly Center where he ran in to the rapper and his entourage. Mr. Berry was arrested on Monday at LAX and charged Wednesday with two counts of assault with a firearm and one count of murder. He was carrying a loaded 9mm handgun at the time of his arrest.

Mr. Berry is an Atlanta based music producer, but he had previously had a fight with Dolla earlier this month at a strip club.

Police do not seem convinced with Mr. Berry's attorney's claims that the producer was in any danger as no other weapons were recovered from the scene and Dolla was not armed.

Bail has been set at $5 million, and if convicted Berry faces life in prison. His lawyer, Mr. Price is attending court today to see if he can get bail reduced due to Mr. Berry's reputation as a 'good kid'.

Mr. Price said that Dolla threatened Mr. Berry at the restaurant at the Beverly Center, and after Mr. Berry left, he noticed that Dolla and two other men were following him to his car and he thought that Dolla was reaching to get a weapon. It was then that Mr. Berry shot him fatally.

"He felt his life was in danger because of the previous altercation and what this guy [Burton] is reputed to be, which is [a member of] the Crips [street gang] and the way he conducted himself in the bathroom and the way his crew approached him when they left the restaurant and followed him to the parking lot," the lawyer said.

The fact that he was trying to get out of town when he was caught was just a sign of panic, said Mr. Price and that the murder charge is too harsh.

Jane Robinson, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles District Attorney's office, said the evidence for the murder charges was strong enough, "otherwise we wouldn't have charged it," she said. "We only charge what we believe we can prove."

Dolla's family have still not commented on the matter.

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NICHELE MITCHELL (not verified)

at 10:28 on May 23rd, 2009

NO MATTER WHAT THERE ARE SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS CASE :

1. WHY WERE YOU CARRYING A WEAPON WITH OUT A PERMIT.

2. YOU PUT HOW MANY LIVES IN DANGER AND A BULLET HAS NO EYES OR NO NOAMES ON IT

3. HOW WERE YOU GOING TO BOARD A PLANE WITH A WEAPON FYI: YOU CAN'T

Denise Wilson-Jackson (not verified)

at 15:16 on May 23rd, 2009

There are several pieces of his side of the story that just don't sit well. First, the altercation about a female, followed by the police in Atl had to escort him to his car for his safety, how coincidental to run into the same person that he had the problem with in Atl in LA. Explain to me how if you have a loaded gun, that YOU feared for your life, and since when is 2 other people people declared an entourage?

SNACKERS (not verified)

at 04:22 on June 8th, 2009

hell yeah gurl u rite

nunu browns (not verified)

at 12:04 on June 7th, 2009

his a fckn murderer no damn reason to kill him , ihope he rot in jail

SNACKERS (not verified)

at 04:20 on June 8th, 2009

I thank he did it because dolla was cute and had some going for him. people should let some things go because they dont know wat the other person got at home. how he know dolla didn't have kids or some at home and he took his life. OVER SOME DUMB. I THINK HE SHOULD DIE TO.

SNACKERS (not verified)

at 04:25 on June 8th, 2009

That bitch just sayin dat cuz he thnk they goin 2 let him off. but naw nigger u should die 2. i hope sum1 kill hiz ass n jail. casue it waz no reason 4 him 2 kill him like dat. datz i punk az nigga 4 u tho. SO I SAY KILL DAT NIGGER.

MISS NASTY (not verified)

at 04:30 on June 8th, 2009

I THINK THAT HATIN AZZZ WHACK AZZZZ NIGGAS LIKE HIM SHOULD ALL FUCKING DIE IN JAIL BECAUSE DAT IS SUM WHACK ASS SHIT SOMEBODY LOSING THEIR LIFE OVA A HATIN ASS NIGGAS LIKE HIM SO GIVE HIS WHACK HATIN AZZZ DEATH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

sexybrownsuga (not verified)

at 20:52 on June 13th, 2009

RIP dolla, i believe that mr. berry was in the wrong for the reason he claiming self defence. Did he see dolla with a gun, knive, are something. "no" dolla was out shopping getting out the studio for a little, his girl birthday was the following week. Mr. berry should be ashame to claim self defense. he is going to have a hard way to prove his case. I wouldn't worry cause Mr. berry is going to be someone B***h in jail. R.I.P dolla the good do die young

Edb (not verified)

at 13:54 on August 17th, 2009

R.I.P Dolla

SacCityKing (not verified)

at 17:28 on August 18th, 2009

If he wasn't a crip they would've got that guy with at least manslaughter or some just like 2pac they know who killed him they'd just rather not say

TraeLo (not verified)

at 20:49 on August 18th, 2009

"Too Harsh" he killed that man, my thing is it said he shot him in the bak, how in the hell is that self defence can anyone explain that, and thats no coincedence that thats the same dude wit the altercation in atlanta then just happened to see him in LA