Young Dolph murder suspect has been identified

Young Dolph murder suspect has been identified
Paras Griffin/Getty Images

Law enforcement officials have released the name of a man wanted for the murder of Young Dolph.

The U.S. Marshals Service, Memphis Police Department, Crime Stoppers, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation are offering a combined reward of up to $15,000 for information leading to the capture of 23-year-old Justin Johnson.

A first-degree murder warrant has been issued for Johnson, who is accused of shooting and killing the late rapper, born Adolph Robert Thornton, Jr., on November 17, 2021, at Makeda’s Cookies in south Memphis. Johnson also has an outstanding warrant for violation of federal supervised release on a weapon offense, and has been added to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s “Most Wanted” list.

U.S. Marshals say Johnson has ties to organized criminal gangs and should be considered armed and dangerous.

As previously reported, on December 16, Young Dolph was honored at a public memorial at the FedExForum arena in Memphis as fans and community members gathered to pay tribute to the slain rapper one month after his death. The memorial included a series of tributes from stars who’d collaborated with the rapper, including Gucci Mane, 2 Chainz and T.I., as well as a message from jailed rapper C-Murder, and a tribute from Grammy-winning singer Monica.

Dolph is also being remembered with a street named after him in his Castalia Heights neighborhood of Memphis.

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