Rapper Young Dolph murder suspect captured in Indiana
A suspect in the November shooting death of rapper Young Dolph in Memphis was captured Tuesday afternoon (Wednesday morning AEDT) in Indiana, according to the US Marshals Service.
The suspect, Justin Johnson, had been named as a person of interest January 5 and a reward had been offered at that time for information leading to his arrest.
Johnson — an aspiring rapper who used the name Straight Drop — had posted on his Instagram account over the weekend that he was innocent and would be turning himself in Monday, but had failed to do so, according to news accounts.
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A suspect in the November shooting death of rapper Young Dolph (pictured) in Memphis was captured Tuesday afternoon (Wednesday morning AEDT) in Indiana Paul R. Giunta/Invision/AP
A second suspect, Cornelius Smith, 32, was already in custody and has been indicted on first-degree murder charges. Smith was arrested in Mississippi December 9.
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"After a coordinated investigation by the US Marshals Two Rivers Violent Fugitive Task Force and the Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force, Justin Johnson was captured today around 3.00pm CST (8am Wednesday AEDT) in Indiana," said a press release from the Marshals Service late Tuesday.
More information will be released in a press conference on Wednesday, officials said.
The suspect, Justin Johnson, had been named as a person of interest January 5 and a reward had been offered at that time for information leading to his arrest US Marshals Service via AP
Young Dolph, legally known as Adolph Thornton Jr., was killed by masked assailants while he was visiting his Memphis store, Makeda's Homemade Butter Cookies, on November 17.
Surveillance footage captured the shooters emerging from and getting back into a getaway car.
Johnson's previous record includes having pleaded guilty to three counts of aggravated assault after shooting three people at a bowling alley in 2017, but he is reported to have been released from prison not long after that conviction.
This video image provided by the Memphis Police Department, show two people with guns drawn after leaving their vehicle, a white Mercedes-Benz, who authorities say are involved in the shooting of 36-year-old rapper Young Dolph on Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021. Police have scoured the city of Thursday as they searched for suspects. Memphis Police Department via AP
TMZ had previously reported that Straight Drop, aka Johnson, had released a music video for his song 'Going Straight In' that included footage shot at the same home where the getaway car from Young Dolph's murder had been located by police. The music video was uploaded November 21, four days after the killing.
"Turning myself in Monday," Johnson had posted on Saturday. "I'm innocent. I'll be back sooner than you can blink."
However, his Instagram page has since been deleted.
A memorial to slain rapper Young Dolph sits in front of boarded windows at Makeda's Cookies on Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021, in Memphis, Tenn. Police said Young Dolph was fatally shot inside the popular Memphis bakery on Wednesday. AP Photo/Adrian Sainz
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