MEMPHIS, Tenn. ( WREG ) — A jury found Justin Johnson, also known as Straight Drop, guilty Thursday on all three counts in the murder of Memphis rapper Young Dolph: first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder and convicted felon in possession of a handgun.
The judge sentenced him to life in prison on the murder count, and there will be a sentencing hearing Nov. 1 on the other counts. The jury deliberated for about four hours and returned the verdict just after 4 p.m.
Johnson’s attorney said afterward that his client was “devastated” by the verdict, and said he would pursue “any and all avenues for appeal.”
On November 17, 2021, 36-year-old Adolph Thorton Jr. , better known as Young Dolph, was gunned down at Makeda’s Cookies on Airways Boulevard near Ketchum in Memphis.
After Thursday’s verdict, Dolph’s fiancee Mia Jaye released a statement on social media:
“Today’s verdict brings relief and restores my confidence in the justice system,” she wrote, thanking law enforcement, prosecutors and the public. “The past three years, marked by the loss of Adolph and the events leading up to the trial, have been incredibly frustrating. My faith has been tested, but Adolph’s tragic execution has only strengthened my resolve to fight for justice — not only for him but for all Black men.”