A man was arrested in connection with the murder of the Atlanta based rapper Dolla, who was gunned downMonday at about 3:10 p.m. as he stood in front of the Beverly Center shopping mall, AP reported.
Georgia resident Aubrey Louis Berry, 23, was apprehended Monday in an ticketing area of the Los Angeles International Airport and was said to be carrying a 9mm semiautomatic handgun. He is being held on $1 million bail.
Dolla, whose real name is Roderick AnthonyBurton II, was shot in the head before the suspect fled the scene in a silver MercedesSUV.
Dolla, 21, arrived in Los Angelesfrom AtlantaMonday and stopped by the mall to shop, his publicist Sue Vannasing told police. He wastaken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Centerfor treatment but was confirmed dead at the hospital, police told the Los Angeles Times.
A motive for the crime has not yet been announced. However,the LAPD questioned at least two persons of interest, Berry and a women detained atthe scene.
Dolla was signed to Akon's Konvict Muzik and was slated to release his album this summer.
Dolla was a member of the rap group Da Razkals Cru and latermodeled for Sean "Diddy" Combs' Sean John clothing line.
Despite his success, Dolla described himself as a regularguy in an interview with RandonmentalTV. "When you get to know me and get tosit down and kick it me and have a conversation with me, you'll see that I'm acool guy," Dolla said. "I'm humble. I'm approachable. I kick back. I'm notreally a loud guy. I smile a lot. I'm not a tough guy either."
He added that R&B music from the greats such as StevieWonder, Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin and the Isley Brothers was his biggestinfluence. Still, he hoped to record with hip-hop legends like Andre 3000. Ironically,he expressed regret that he would not be able to collaborate with other hip-hopgreats who had already passed away before their time.
"I wish I could have [recorded with] Pimp C," he said. "Iwish I could have done a song with Tupac and Biggie, all the legends."
I send my condolences to Dolla's friends, family and fans.
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