Suspects Charged in Relation to Murder of Memphis Rapper Young Dolph

In Summary

Two suspects have been arrested in connection to the murder of Memphis rapper Young Dolph, who was shot to death on November 17, 2021. 

WARNING: This story contains discussions of gun violence.

Two men have been arrested in connection to the murder of Memphis rapper Young Dolph, per CNN

The U.S. Marshal’s service announced 23-year-old Justin Johnson was apprehended on Tuesday in Indiana. He was wanted on a charge of first-degree murder.  

RELATED: Young Dolph’s GF Promotes ‘Black Men Deserve to Grow Old’ Campaign After Fatal Shooting  

Johnson, who was previously said to have ties to organized criminal gangs and was considered armed and dangerous, also has an outstanding warrant for breach of federal supervised release on a charge of weapon offense. 

Cornelius Smith, 32, is the second suspect charged in Young Dolph’s death. He was already being held on an auto-theft warrant after being arrested in Southaven, Mississippi, roughly 210 miles northeast of Memphis, on December 9. 

The auto-theft warrant stemmed from the white Mercedes Benz used in Young Dolph’s murder. The vehicle was reportedly taken in a carjacking at a Memphis gas station on November 10, 2021, according to the district attorney, and found abandoned a few days after the rapper’s death. 

ABC 24 News reported Smith is now charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, felon in possession of a firearm, use of a handgun in the commission of a violent felony and theft of goods worth more than $10,000. The victim in the attempted murder charge is reportedly Young Dolph’s brother, who was with him at the time of the shooting. 

RELATED: Makeda’s Cookies Honors the Life of Young Dolph  

Adolph Thornton, Jr., also known as Young Dolph, was shot multiple times outside of Makeda’s Butter Cookies in Memphis on November 17, 2021, dying on scene. The rapper was said to be one of the cookie shop’s biggest supporters and visited whenever he was in his hometown.

If you or someone you know is struggling from trauma triggered by this article, resources are available here.

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