Suspects in the shooting and killing of rapper Young Dolph are finally captured after 2 months since the artist’s death. The suspect, Justin Johnson is a 23-years-old is Memphis rapper is known by his stage name “Straight Drop” which was wanted by the police for a week now in connection to the murder.
The U.S. Marshals Twitter page posted a wanted tweet on Jan. 6, saying, “The U.S. Marshals Service, Memphis Police Department, Crime Stoppers and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation offer a reward of up to $15,000 for information leading to the capture of Justin Johnson, who is wanted for the murder of rapper, Young Dolph,” followed by a link to their website with information and contact details.
Charges against Johnson amount to first-degree murder, criminal attempted first-degree murder, and property theft. Shelby County District Attorney General Amy Weirich confirmed the other suspect in the shooting of Young Dolph, Cornelius Smith, was charged with first-degree murder charges in addition to attempted first-degree murder, convicted felon in possession of a firearm, employment of a firearm in the commission of a dangerous felony and property theft, on Tuesday, by a grand jury. He is currently being held without bond, as a final sentence is pending.
Smith was arrested back in December in connection to possession of the white Mercedes Benz that was involved in the shooting of Young Dolph. Among the two suspects, Justin Johnson is known to have a criminal history from 2017, when he was 18-years-old. In a review of the Shelby County court records Johnson shot three people at the Billy Hardwick Bowling Alley, injuring two of them severely.
Johnson was given a chance of redemption around the time with no serious charge because of no previous criminal record dating back to 2017, and because he cooperated with the investigation. The Shelby County Judge who presided over his case, Christopher Craft said in a video interview, “The first time he used a gun, we gave him some slack because of him immediately cooperating and doing everything.”
Young Dolph was shot to death in November of 2021 while visiting and shopping from Makeda’s Homemade Butter Cookies, a place he was known to visit frequently. He was just 36-years-old.
