Law enforcement reveals new information on two men charged with Young Dolph murder – FOX13 News Memphis

MEMPHIS, Tennessee – New details come to light during the arrest of two people charged with the murder of young Memphis rap legend Dolph.

The press conference comes less than a day after the story broke across the world. Reports have come from across the country and Memphis Police are investigating hundreds of leads to arrest the people.

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The US Marshals logged hundreds and hundreds of hours, checking in Indianapolis, Dallas, Houston and Atlanta, following different advice, according to US Marshall Tyreece Miller.

Authorities in Virginia received a clue that Justin Johnson was driving on Highway 42 in Indiana.

The US Marshals Great Lakes were contacted for help, stopped a car as it pulled up for trucks in Brazil, Indiana, outside Terre Haute, and safely apprehended Johnson.

There was another person in the car with Johnson, Shundale Barnett, 27, who allegedly provided assistance to Johnson as authorities were looking for him and will face charges of aiding and abetting.

Johnson and Barnett are being held in separate prisons in Indiana pending their extradition to Memphis.

Barnett has been charged with aiding and abetting first degree murder, felony attempt at first degree murder and theft of property between $ 10,000 and $ 60,000, according to the US Marshals Service.

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Johnson gave up everything to be immediately extradited to Memphis.

Memphis Police Chief CJ Davis thanked several agencies for their assistance in the arrest of all suspects in the Young Dolph murder.

The case will be handled by the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office, according to District Attorney Amy Weirich.

When Johnson was 17 he was charged with raping a woman in a hotel and also served a federal sentence and was released in May 2021 from the Federal Bureau of Prisons, officials said.

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“At this time, we cannot discuss the details of the evidence as the indictments are still pending,” Chief Davis said. “There was enough evidence to bring the case to this point.”

Another name that came up at the press conference was Terrion Owens, the man who was allegedly with Cornelius Smith in the November car hijacking of the white Mercedes that was used and later recovered.

Court documents obtained by FOX13 show Owens was initially arrested and charged with carjacking as well as criminal handgun possession, aggravated assault and other crimes on November 12, 2021.

On December 2, three weeks later, all seven charges were dismissed.

FOX13 asked Chief Davis about Owens; she had this to say.

“Anyone who could be associated with a specific crime is a person of interest. I don’t know when or at what level Mr. Owens is involved in this, we’re still investigating, and as we mentioned before, it can have a ripple effect. There could be more involvement and more accusations in the days to come, ”Davis said.

Chief Davis also said there may be more evidence that will lead to more people linked to the crime.

At this time, Owens has not been named as a suspect in this case by law enforcement and those initial charges have been dropped.

Owens was also behind bars when Young Dolph was assassinated on November 17.

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PREVIOUS INFORMATION:

The US Marshals said one of the suspects, Justin Johnson, 23, was captured in Indiana on Tuesday January 11 at around 3 p.m.

According to the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office, the second suspected gunman, Cornelius Smith, was also arrested and held in the Shelby County Jail on charges of first degree murder for the rapper’s death.

Smith is also charged with attempted murder for allegedly shooting Young Dolph’s brother, who was with him inside Makeda’s Cookies at the time of the shooting.

Johnson’s arrest comes less than a week after the Marshals identified him as one of those responsible for the death of Young Dolph, real name Adolph Robert Thornton Jr.

Johnson took to social media shortly before his capture, announcing he would be visiting 201 Poplar, but he never showed up, according to the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office.

Smith, 32, is also charged with first degree murder, as well as attempted first degree murder, illegal carrying or possession of a weapon, using a firearm with intent to commit felony and theft of property between $ 10,000 and $ 60,000.

Smith was arrested on December 9 in Southaven on a car theft warrant involving the white Mercedes Benz vehicle used in the murder of Young Dolph, according to the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office, Weirich.

Weirich’s office said the Mercedes was stolen in a Nov 10 hijacking at a Kirby Rd ​​gas station. Working on information from an informant who said the car was used in the Young Dolph’s murder, police found the car on November 20 in the 1100 block of Bradley St. in Orange Mound, three days after the world-famous artist was shot and killed. .

Southaven Police Chief Macon Moore told FOX13 Smith was arrested on Airways Blvd. by Dollar General just north of Rasco Rd. and arrested for a property crime.

Smith was extradited from DeSoto County Jail to Shelby County Jail on Tuesday, January 11.

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