A concerted effort has gone into solving the murder of Young Dolph and, on Wednesday, Memphis homicide detectives unveiled Justin Johnson as the prime suspect.
Manhunt launched for alleged Young Dolph killer
As reported by WREG, a local news channel in Memphis, Tennessee, a specialised task team made up of United States (US) Marshalls, the Memphis police department, Crime Stoppers and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations (TBI) is placing every resource available in the manhunt for Johnson.
Evidence gathered thus far indicates that it was the 23-year-old who unleashed the hail of gunfire that killed Dolph, real name Adolph Robert Thornton Jr, inside Makeda’s Cookies on Wednesday 17 November 2021.
“[I am] deeply saddened that it’s a young person finding himself in a situation where his life is essentially over. It hurts knowing it was a young person. It hurts knowing he took someone who meant so much to the community away from us,” Memphis City Councilman J.B. Smiley said in a statement.
Here’s what we know about Justin Johnson
The walls are closing in on Johnson and it’s only a matter of time before he is brought to book for his alleged crimes. From what we understand, the 23-year-old:
- faces a first-degree murder charge lodged by the Memphis police department;
- has a warrant for violation of federal supervised release; and
- is wanted by TBI for first-degree murder, attempted murder and theft of property.
All resources have gone into tracking down Johnson, who is regarded as a dangerous man with nothing to lose. The different law enforcement departments involved in the manhunt have issued a $15 000 (est. R239 000) reward for Johnson’s capture, and he’s also been added to the TBI’s ‘most wanted’ fugitives list.
The alleged killer is five feet, eight inches tall, weighing about 190 pounds, and has the name ‘Jaiya’ tattooed on his right arm.
Johnson was also pictured wearing the distinct and custom made ‘P.R.E’ chain that belonged to Dolph.
Perhaps, the most shocking detail of all, is the image showing Johnson in the background of what appears to be a scene from a Dolph music video or performance. The entire time, the man who would allegedly end the life of Memphis’ brightest star was standing right behind him.