New footage shows what happened during the deadly shooting involving DTP record label founder Chaka Zulu.
According to Atlanta’s homicide investigators, Chaka is a suspect in the June shooting that left one person dead and two injured. In new surveillance footage, Chaka is seen in a parking lot of a restaurant with a group of other people.
Seconds later, a fight breaks out after two of the men begin attacking Chaka, who then pulls out a gun and fired shots. Police says that 23-year-old Artez Benton was hit and later died from his injuries.
On September 13th, Chaka turned himself in at the Fulton County Jail but was later bonded out. The record label founder was charged with murder, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, and simple battery.
However on Thursday, Chaka’s attorney Gabe Banks accused Atlanta PD of not doing a thorough investigation. Banks says Chaka “fought for his life” and claims Benton was not an innocent victim. He also adds that Chaka was attempting to deescalate the situation before things went bad.
“We remain disappointed in APD for deciding to bring charges against Chaka,” Banks says. “We remain equally disappointed in the City of Atlanta Police Department for not filing charges against the people who attacked Chaka from behind and knocked his assistant out, clearly on video.”
On Monday, Banks posted a statement to his Instagram account saying that Chaka was “disappointed” by APD’s decision to charge him. Banks adds that Chaka “was forced to defend himself” while being attacked by four individuals.
“It is not lost on Mr. Zulu that someone lost his life,” Banks wrote. “But had Mr. Zulu not lawfully defended himself, Mr. Zulu would have been killed that night.”
