14 DAY TRIAL // A shooting that took place a couple of hours ago at the Beverly Center in Los Angeles ended in the death of 21-year-old, Atlanta-based rapper Dolla, real name Roderick Anthony Burton II. Following the altercation, a suspect was seen leaving the Mall, jumping in a silver Mercedes and driving to the airport, reportedly. The suspect is now in police custody, having been apprehended at LAX, the LA Times reports.
It is not yet known what may have started the altercation at the Mall that ended with Dolla being shot in the head, and killed on the spot, but the police believe the young rapper and his assailant knew each other before the incident. One theory that is now circulating is that Dolla got into a verbal argument with fellow passengers on a flight from Atlanta to Los Angeles, and that the shooter was also present and might have taken offense with what had been said.
Nevertheless, until the police investigation comes to an end, this is nothing but pure speculation. Hopefully, the suspect now in custody – believed to be the same man who was seen by eyewitnesses fleeing the murder scene only minutes after the shot was heard – will be able to shed more light on the case.
“The man shot at the Beverly Center mall this afternoon was identified as Atlanta-based Dolla, whose real name is Roderick Anthony Burton II, according to his publicist, Sue Vannasing. She said Dolla was shot in the head around 3:10 p.m. while he and another rapper, D.J. Shabbazz, waited in the area after shopping at the popular Westside mall. A friend who was with the rapper at Beverly Center also confirmed his identity to The Times.” the LA Times writes of the tragic incident.
“About two hours later, Los Angeles police detained a ‘person of interest’ as he attempted to board a plane out of Los Angeles International Airport. The man allegedly drove his silver Mercedes SUV from Beverly Center to the airport. Vannasing said Dolla had gotten into an altercation with other passengers on a flight from Atlanta to Los Angeles, but it’s unclear if that was related to the violence.” the report further reads.
Dolla was signed to Akon’s Konvict Muzik label and had released one album, the 2009 “Dolla & A Dream.” He was extremely successful in Atlanta, and was on his way to international fame, it is being said. Dolla was only 21 years old.