For Immediate Release

Memphis, TN – The U.S. Marshals Service, Memphis Police Department, Crime Stoppers and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation are offering a combined reward of up to $15,000 for information leading to the capture of a Memphis man wanted for the murder of a Memphis rapper.

Justin Johnson, 23, is alleged to have shot to death Adolph Robert Thornton, Jr., 36, known by his entertainment name “Young Dolph” in Memphis on Nov. 17, 2021. During the ongoing investigation, the Memphis Police Department issued a first-degree murder warrant for Johnson for the crime.

Johnson also has an outstanding warrant for violation of federal supervised release out of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee. The original charge was for a weapon offense.

Both cases were adopted for a fugitive investigation by the U.S. Marshals Two Rivers Violent Fugitive Task Force. Since the issuance of the murder warrant, U.S. Marshals and MPD have been extensively searching for Johnson.

Since Johnson has been able to evade capture, law enforcement agencies are now offering a combined reward of $15,000. U.S. Marshals are offering up to $10,000; MPD and Crime Stoppers up to $2,500, and the TBI up to $2,500 as Johnson has been added to the TBI’s “Most Wanted” list.

Johnson is a black male with a date of birth April 10, 1998. He is approximately 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs about 190 pounds. He has the name “Jaiya” tattooed on his right arm.

Johnson has ties to organized criminal gangs and should be considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with any information on Johnson’s whereabouts is strongly encouraged to call the U.S. Marshals at (901)275-4562, (901) 601-1575, or (731) 571-0280. Anonymous tips may also be submitted via the
U.S. Marshals Tip App.

Additional information about the U.S. Marshals Service can be found at http://www.usmarshals.gov.

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