Chaka Zulu, the longtime manager of award-winning rapper and actor Ludacris, saw charges against him dropped after it was determined he killed a 23-year-old in self-defense during a 2022 shooting.
The district attorney's office in Fulton County, Georgia, found that the standard of proof required for the charges against Zulu, including murder, led prosecutors to their decision, according to a report.
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"Our investigation of the facts and analysis of applicable law indicates that this is an appropriate resolution of this case based on the standard of proof required," a spokesperson said. "Because the defendant is now involved in a pre-indictment diversion program, we will not comment further about the matter at this time.”
Zulu, born Ahmed Obafemi, was one of three individuals shot in the parking lot of a Buckhead restaurant following an altercation.
Artez Benton was killed and another person was sent to the hospital, and Zulu later surrendered to authorities on charges of murder, aggravated assault, simple battery, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, the report noted.
Zulu was let out of custody on a $200,000 bond, and his attorney, Gabe Banks, argued that the manager and music producer had acted in self-defense and cited surveillance footage.
Banks delivered the same argument Wednesday.
“Mr. Chaka Zulu, a beloved son of Atlanta, is pleased with the outcome of the thorough investigation conducted by District Attorney Fani Willis and her team of lawyers and investigators. From the beginning of this case, Mr. Zulu was committed to a fair process," Banks said. "He fully believes that after a thoughtful examination of all the facts and evidence related to this matter, District Attorney Willis reached an appropriate and just decision. It is not lost on Mr. Zulu that there was a loss of life under extraordinary circumstances. However, it is now time for Mr. Zulu to put this difficult process behind him, and to focus on the support and nurturing of his family."
A lawyer representing the Benton family did not share the same sentiment.
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"He should be held criminally responsible and he should have been formally charged for the death of their son," Theresa Seals said. "They still stand by that today as they did from the very beginning.”
"It is a little surprising to them to kind of now hear that the next step is the diversion program,” she added. “The [district attorney's] office just gave them generalities of what could happen and not a definite program."