Rapper shot dead in Pizza Hut parking lot on Buena Vista Road | Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

A shooting in the parking lot of Pizza Hut has left a man dead and Columbus police searching for the gunman.

Branden Denson, 32, of Columbus, was pronounced dead at 11 p.m. Friday at the scene of the shooting, Muscogee County Chief Deputy Coroner Freeman Worley said. Denson’s body will be sent to the crime lab in Decatur for an autopsy.

Police Lt. Greg Touchberry of the Investigative Services Bureau said patrol officers were called at 10:28 p.m. to the 4236 Buena Vista Road business to check on a person shot. Officers found Denson dead of a gunshot wound.

Worley said Denson was found on the ground between his vehicle and another car in the restaurant parking lot.

According to a series of posts on Facebook, Denson is known as “Billion Dollar BD” with a popular following as a rapper in the region. He was less than a mile from his home, Worley said.

A native of West Palm Beach, Fla., he was described as hungry and motivated by his music. His latest popular singles include “Power” and “BMF.” A friend recently posted that he was about to be big.

The death is under investigation as a homicide. It is the eighth homicide investigated by Columbus police this year and the 11th recorded by the coroner’s office. It came five days after the April shooting of 24-year-old Alec Spencer, who was shot to death Easter morning at an unlicensed club at 480 Andrews Road.

Anyone with information on Denson’s death should contact Cpl. Robert Nicholas at 706-225-4363 or robertnicholas@columbusga.org.