Murder Charge Filed in Killing of Up-and-Coming Rapper

Aubrey Berry is facing murder and assault charges, as he is being accused of shooting to death rapper Roderick Anthony Burton II, known as Dolla. Burton was killed in the valet area of an upscale Los Angeles mall on Monday (May 18).

If convicted, Berry, 23, faces a maximum of life in prison with the possibility of parole, according to Los Angeles prosecutors.

The Los Angeles District Attorney's office stated that Berry drove away from the scene of the crime and was later arrested and was allegedly carrying a gun.

Any motives for the shooting have yet to be revealed, but it is known that the two men were involved in an altercation last week at an Atlanta strip club, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Dolla, who was a protege of Akon, recently released two singles, "Like This" and "She's So Fine." The Atlanta-based artist was in Los Angeles to finish recording for his debut album, stopping at the mall before going to the studio.

Incidentally, the shooting took place 1.5 miles from where rapper Notorious B.I.G. was murdered in 1997.