Murderer Aubrey Louis Berry Claims Self-Defense While Rapper Dolla’s Funeral Held In Atlanta

Posted on May 23, 2009

The alleged shooter of rapper Dolla, Aubrey Louis Berry, was charged with murder Wednesday in Los Angeles, but is claiming self-defense. Meanwhile Dolla’s funeral is being held in Atlanta.

Aubrey Louis Berry, 23, is also facing felony assault charges for shooting at Dolla’s cousin, Wilbert Robinson, and Sidiq Abawi, a friend and recording partner. Both men escaped the gunfire that killed Dolla, real name Roderick Anthony Burton II.

Berry was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport carrying a loaded 9mm handgun. If convicted, Berry faces life in prison.

Investigators are trying to find a motive for the shooting.

The shooting reportedly occurred during a group argument and scuffle between Dolla and his camp and other passengers on their flight from Atlanta to Los Angeles, which possibly involved a knife confrontation.

Berry’s attorney, Howard R. Price, told reporters in Los Angeles that it was a coincidence that the two men flew to the same city and ate at the same restaurant (P.F. Chang’s China Bistro) on the same date and time.

Price accused Burton and his entourage of being affiliated with the Crips street gang.

Burton’s stepfather, George Viera, said Dolla was merely a character — not a real-life thug.

“To us he was just Roddy,” said Viera, married to Dolla’s mother, Dawnee Robinson Viera, for three years. “When he was home, you couldn’t pry him away. Loved to play with his nieces and nephews, loved to play on the Wii.”

Dolla’s family including sisters Divinity Burton, 22, and Sadenicole Burton, 20, gathered at the Viera’s southwest Atlanta home Tuesday to plan Dolla’s funeral, scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday at Murray Brothers Funeral Home. A memorial service, also at Murray Brothers, will be held at 6 p.m., Friday, Viera said.

He was nearing completion of his first album, “Another Day, Another Dolla’,” Viera said, but had plans of attending theology school. “He wanted to go to theology school,” he said. “He was very interested in religion. People think rapper, they think hard, but he wasn’t that way.”

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