After police identified one of the gunmen and released his picture, a photo surfaces of the slain rapper with a man who looks like his shooter Justin Johnson.
- Jan 7, 2022
AceShowbiz - Young Dolph and his murderer might be related to each other in a way that others had not thought before. The "Major" hitmaker was allegedly pictured with Justin Johnson, one of the suspected gunmen who killed him, before his death.
After police identified one of the murder suspects, a photo surfaced on the Internet showing the slain rapper partying in a club with the man, who is believed to be Justin. The "RNB" spitter seemed to be enjoying himself while holding a stack of cash, with people, including one who looks like Justin, around him.
Dolph, whose real name is Adolph Robert Thornton Jr., was shot and killed while he was visiting Makeda's Homemade Butter Cookies in Memphis on November 17, 2021. He was laid to rest on Tuesday, November 30 at the cemetery across from Hamilton High School, Dolph's alma mater.
Nearly two months later, the U.S. Marshalls, Memphis Police Department and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation identified 23-year-old Justin Johnson as one of the suspects. He is wanted by police in connection with a number alleged charges, including first-degree murder, criminal attempted first-degree murder and property theft.
Authorities released his photo on social media in hopes of locating the suspect. His description says he is 5-foot-8 tall, weighs 190 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. Law enforcement says Justin is on the TBI Most Wanted list, has ties to organized crime and should be considered armed and dangerous.
He has the name "Jaiya" tattooed on his right arm. According to his social media page, Justin appears to be a local rapper who goes by the name StraightDrop. The law enforcement agencies offered a combined award of $15,000 for information leading to his arrest.
Following the release of the photo, fans noticed that Justin filmed a music video for his song "Going Straight In" at the house where the getaway car was found. The music video was released on November 21, nearly a week after the murder.
