Young Dolph’s Suspected Killers Captured Following Manhunt

There’s been a break in the investigation into Young Dolph’s death.

The two men who cops say gunned down Young Dolph are in custody after a manhunt which resulted in their arrests.

23-year-old Justin Johnson was taken in by U.S. Marshals Officers Tuesday in Indiana. He’s wanted on a slew of charges out of Memphis including first-degree murder.

32-year-old Cornelius Smith was also booked on a first-degree murder charge Tuesday. Smith is also charged with attempted murder for allegedly shooting at Young Dolph’s brother, who was with him inside Makeda’s Cookies at the time of the shooting.

FOX 13 in Memphis was first to break the news of the suspects’ capture. According to outlet, tips came in from across the country and Memphis Police vetted hundreds of leads to arrest these individuals.

Cops announced Wednesday Johnson was wanted for murdering Dolph and released his mugshot. According to his social media page, Johnson appears to be a local rapper who goes by the name StraightDrop. He went on social media Saturday to announce plans to turn himself in come Monday — which he didn’t do. He also claimed he is innocent. Law enforcement however say he has ties to organized crime.

Smith meanwhile has not yet made a public statement about his involvement in the murder.

As previously reported, Young Dolph (real name Adolph Thornton) was gunned down November 17, 2021 while inside Makeda’s cookie shop in Memphis. Two masked gunmen were caught on surveillance footage before fleeing in a getaway car.

Cops says one of the suspects used his gun to carjack the Mercedes-Benz just a week prior to the fatal shooting.