Ludacris’ longtime manager Chaka Zulu will not be tried for murder, prosecutors say

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - Chaka Zulu, the longtime manager of rapper Ludacris, will not be tried for murder and other charges stemming from a deadly shooting outside a Buckhead restaurant in June 2022, prosecutors announced Wednesday.

The Fulton County District Attorney’s Office released the following statement Wednesday afternoon:

Chaka Zulu, whose real name is Ahmed Obafemi, was charged with murder and other counts including aggravated assault and simple battery in September 2022 following an investigation of a June 26, 2022, shooting outside the APT 4B restaurant on Peachtree Road.

Responding police said they found three men with gunshot wounds. One of the men was Zulu, who was struck in the back. Artez Jamil Benton, 23, was shot in the chest and died from his injuries, according to police. Another man was shot and injured.

In September 2022, Atlanta police said the department and the Fulton County DA “established probable cause for the charge of murder in this case,” which was then turned over to the DA’s office.

Zulu reportedly turned himself into police on Sept. 13, 2022, and was released on bond the same day.

His attorney argued he was attacked by a gang and forced to defend himself. Benton’s family said Benton was never in a gang.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Chaka Zulu (@uluz3)

In a statement on his behalf, Zulu’s attorney Gabe Banks, said Zulu 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 the case, Mr. Zulu was committed to a fair process. He fully believes that after a thoughtful examination of all the facts and evidence related to this matter, District Attorney Fani 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,” Banks said in a statement.