Homicide Report > Roderick Burton, 21
Roderick Burton, 21
Died May 18, 2009 at 3:39 p.m.
Roderick Anthony Burton II, a 21-year-old black man, was shot in the head and killed on Monday, May 18, in the 8500 block of Beverly Boulevard in Beverly Grove, according to the Los Angeles County coroner's office.
Burton, an Atlanta-based rapper best-known by his stage name Dolla, was shot about 3:10 p.m. while standing in the valet waiting area of the Beverly Center mall.
Witnesses told authorities that the gunman fled in a Mercedes SUV.
Hours later Los Angeles police arrested Aubrey Louis Berry, 23, of Atlanta at Los Angeles International Airport. Police said he had what they believe was the gun that killed Burton tucked in his waistband when he was detained.
Berry has been charged with Burton's murder. He pleaded not guilty at an arraignment on May 22.
Authorities said the shooting may have stemmed from an altercation between Berry and Burton earlier in the month at an Atlanta strip club.
Burton was an up-and-coming rapper who had recorded several singles. He was in town to work on his first album, slated to be released this summer on Jive Records, said Dolla's publicist, Sue Vannasing.
Berry’s attorney, Howard R. Price, said his client shot the rapper in self-defense.
"At worst it's a manslaughter case; at best it's a case of self-defense," he told The Times.
— Sam Quinones, Andrew Blankstein and Richard Winton
Full Times coverage:
Man fatally shot at entrance to Beverly Center
Alleged Dolla shooter pleads not guilty
Slaying of rapper Dolla may have roots in Atlantic dispute, sources say
Photos:
Top: Dolla aka Roderick Anthony Burton II arrives at the 21st annual Soul Train Music Awards held at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium on March 10, 2007, in Pasadena. Credit: AP Photo / Kirklandem
Bottom: Aubrey Louis Berry appears in court Wednesday in the killing of Dolla, the stage name of Roderick Anthony Burton II. Berry remains in custody on $5-million bail on one count of murder and two counts of assault with a firearm. Credit: Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times
- Neighborhood: Beverly Grove
- Age: 21
- Gender: Male
- Cause: Gunshot
- Day of the week: Monday
- Agency: LAPD Wilshire
- Race/Ethnicity: Black
- Crime scene: Commercial building
Six reader comments about Roderick Burton
Yes it seems like this was an argument that started in Atlanta at a Cheshire Bridge road strip club and ended at the valet parking area at the Beverly Center. They flew all the way to LA to settle it. Obviously not a well thought out murder as the killer had the gun on him at the airport.
On a personal note, I remember the day he was killed. The headlines were saying things like "Rapper Dolla gunned down at the Beverly Center". I happened to be going to the Beverly Center that night so I made sure to see if there was a large media presence.
On the La Cienega side of the mall, all of the parking lots were taped off and there were about a dozen cops standing in front. There were at least four news vans parked on the side. If you didn't know anything else, it would be clear that something bad had happenend at the Beverly Center.
As I'm walking close to the cops, an SUV pulls up with a couple inside and a middle aged woman hops out. She wants to know when the cops are leaving so they can park. The cop tells her that there was a murder and that they're investigating. Without blinking an eye she asks again when they are leaving. He says he doesn't know. She hops back in the car and rolls away.
Murder or not, sometimes parking is more important I guess. I found it to be an interesting LA moment. Sometimes dinner reservations trumps dead rappers. Sorry Dolla.
RIP
Jan. 30, 2010 at 9:28 a.m.
- iLovee Dolla/ Roderick Anthony Burton II but the information at the top isnt right , he wasnt shot in the head he was shot 3 times in the back and 1 in the front. I wish that the justice in this case would finnaly happen and I pray for his family every day , iHope they're are doinq okay. RIPdolla .
April 15, 2011 at 9:57 a.m.
Hi i love you i cry for u every night i love u but im reely sorry for your dead ...<3 rip i wanna more people watch on yours music videos rip i love u forever<333333
R.I.P DOLLA (RODERICK ANTHONY BURTON 2) <33
May 3, 2011 at 12:32 a.m.
is sad to see him gone i think about him everyday he mite be gone but he aint forgotten i love yhu dolla so do ur friends and family do we all miss u
Aug. 5, 2011 at 7:35 p.m.
i love you dearly i have you all ova my room..i felt like you were apart of me...babee i cry everytime i look at ur pics..i got ur birthday 11/25..were are god's november babee's huh ily..& wen our bdays come i always pour some rozay on dha ground for you ground for you..god thank you for sharing ur precious roderick wif us but you wanted your angel bak watch ova me errday babee ily & imy alot..#alwaysurwife
Oct. 20, 2011 at 4:13 p.m.
Its still so sad that dolla had to lose is life so early only 21yrs old and he was on his way to greatness I still listen to his music everyday ill neva forget him or 2pac true talent lives on. LONG LIVE DOLLA R.I.P.
Oct. 28, 2011 at 11:15 a.m.
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