TMZ has obtained surveillance footage that shows Ludacris’ manager, Chaka Zulu, being jumped by five suspected gang members outside his Buckhead, Atlanta restaurant on June 26.
The footage shows Zulu pulled his gun first and fired at his attackers, including Artez Benton, 23, who died from a gunshot wound to the chest.
Zulu, 52, turned himself in to the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office on Sept. 13. He was charged with murder, simple battery and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.
The footage shows the five suspected gang members arriving in the valet area and make their way inside the restaurant.
That’s where the video starts. Zulu gets into a heated argument with Tre’mon Robinson, one of the suspected gang members who was told to leave the restaurant because they didn’t have reservations.
During the argument, a man named Corey Crawford (wearing red sneakers) is seen retrieving something out of a vehicle. A source directly connected to the case tells TMZ Zulu’s legal team believes Crawford got a gun from the vehicle.
Zulu and Robinson tussled after Robinson chest bumped him. Crawford and Benton rushed over, and Crawford sucker punched Zulu from behind.
Benton is seen punching and stomping Zulu who is on the ground.
Zulu’s female assistant (wearing orange shirt) began punching Benton, but Robinson punched her in the face, knocking her to the ground.
That’s when Zulu pulled his gun and fired, hitting Benton once in the chest. Zulu fired a second round which grazed another man in the leg.
At the same time, Crawford ducked between 2 cars at the left of the frame. He opened fire three times hitting Zulu once in the back.
Zulu stumbled out of the frame and collapsed on the ground.
Crawford and Robinson were not charged with any crimes.
On Monday, Zulu’s attorney, Gabe Banks, spoke with Shelley Wynter of WSB Radio’s Word On the Street.
Banks told Wynter that Benton and the other gang members “actually attacked Zulu from behind and continued to beat him down, punch and stomp him while he was in a defenseless posture on the ground. That is undisputed.”
Banks confirmed that the Atlanta Police Department obtained arrest warrants and charged Zulu. And that Fulton County DA Fani Willis did not charge Zulu with any crimes.
Another insider told Sandrarose.com that Zulu will not take a plea deal from Willis. His case will go to trial.
Watch the video below.
