Murder Trial Begins In Fatal Shooting Of Akon's Protege, Dolla

The trial for slain rapper Roderick "Dolla" Burton has begun today in California nearly a year after the Akon protege was murdered by gunfire.

Taking place in Los Angeles, attorneys on both sides argued their cases.

Deputy District Attorney Robert Grace told jurors Aubrey Louis Berry fired eight shots at rapper Roderick Anthony Burton II, known as Dolla, and his friends in the valet area of Beverly Center. Grace said the 21-year-old Burton was struck by four bullets as he tried to run from Berry. Three of the shots hit Burton in the back, Grace said in his opening statement. After the shooting, Berry drove around Burton, who lay dying, Grace said. "Roderick was senselessly gunned down by Aubrey Berry in a hail of gunfire," Grace said. Berry, 24, has pleaded not guilty to one count of murder and two counts of assault with a deadly weapon. His attorney Howard Price has said Berry acted in self-defense.
Berry was accused of killing Dolla last year and was arrested shortly after the fatal shooting took place.

A Georgia man has been arrested for investigation of murder in the fatal shooting of Dolla. Los Angeles police said in a statement Tuesday that 23-year-old Aubrey Louis Berry of Georgia was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport with a gun on Monday night. His bail was set at $1 million.
Akon later spoke to a crowd of students about the danger of guns.

"He was a great kid, he didn't deserve it," Akon said of the 21-year-old Dolla, who was in Los Angeles to work on his first album A Dolla & A Dream. "The reason he got shot was probably the most miscellaneous thing ever. It's to a point now where we're always trying to find ways to deal with our issues, deal with all these main challenges which is very hard, especially when we're surrounded by an environment that don't really have morals." Akon, who has been accused of embellishing his own criminal past, also called the murder "a very senseless crime."
Rap mogul Diddy spoke on Dolla's memory last May.

"RIP Dolla," Diddy wrote unmodified. "God bless his family! He was a good kid! You will be missed player. Don't take life for granted people!"
Check out Dolla's RIP Tribute video down below: