Young Dolph's Alleged Murderer Named, US Marshals Announce $15K Reward
By Fiyin Olowokandi on January 5, 2022 at 7:27 PM EST
Almost two months after Young Dolph was tragically gunned down, authorities have finally had a break in his murder case and named a suspect.
According to the U.S. Marshals, a 23-year-old is wanted for the murder of the famous rapper, and he is now a part of the Most Wanted list.
Young Dolph's Killer Was Reportedly A 23-Year-Old Male
According to reports by Fox13 Memphis, a man named Justin Johnson was allegedly responsible for the fatal shooting at Makeda's Homemade Cookies that took Dolph's life on November 17, 2021.
The U.S Marshals Service issued a press release naming Johnson the main suspect. They claim the 23-year-old is currently on the run is wanted for first-degree murder in Dolph's death case. He is described as a 5-foot-8-inches African American male who weighs 190 pounds with the name "Jaiya" tattooed on his right arm.
Johnson has been added to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation's Most Wanted List and is allegedly affiliated with organized criminal gangs.
Authorities released minimal details about the specific gang activity he's part of or his connection to the late Young Dolph. However, the U.S Marshals are offering a $15,000 reward for anyone who has information about his whereabouts. Authorities believe Johnson is armed and dangerous and urge the public to reach them on these phone lines, 901-275-4562, 901-601-1575, or 731-571-0280.
Surveillance Footage Showed Two Suspects
As we reported, Dolph, 36, was murdered in his hometown while making a purchase at a cookie shop. The rapper who posted a photo hours before the incident was shot multiple times after shooters pulled up to the shop and fired at him.
Days after the devastating incident, authorities released the surveillance images, which showed two individuals opening fire on the rapper. The suspects were dressed in black hoodies and grey sweatpants, their faces covered with nose masks. The gunmen held a Draco AK-47 and a pistol before driving away in a Mercedes Benz.
As The Blast reported, a few days after the stills were released, authorities recovered a piece of key evidence in the case when the white Mercedes Benz that was used as a getaway car was recovered from an area close to the shooting scene.
A Befitting Funeral For A Memphis Icon
Two weeks after his tragic death, Young Dolph was laid to rest in his hometown. A funeral ceremony was held at the First Baptist Church in Tennessee, with his body followed by police escorts.
Despite the heartbreaking way he passed, Dolph's funeral was tagged a "Celebration of Life" because of the immense impact he had on his community.
The "100 Shots" rapper, survived by his wife and two kids, was also honored at a public memorial service held at the Memphis NBA arena.
It should be noted, the story originally broke including the name of another individual who is in custody, but turns out, authorities haven't named or identified the second shooter.
Story Developing...