-Angelot ndongmo-

Cousins!

Messages from Young Dolph’s alleged murder suspect’s unverified Instagram account have gone viral  since surfacing over the weekend of him not only vowing innocence but also announcing he will be turning himself in!

ABC News reports Justin Johnson also known under the rap name of  ‘Straight Drop’ forwarded messages on his IG story Saturday that read, “Turning Myself In Monday @201 I’m Innocent. I’ll Be Back Sooner Than You Can Blink.”

Coincidentally however, there is a men’s jail, Shelby County, Tennessee that is located right in downtown Memphis at 201 Poplar Avenue. Authorities are unclear if the 23 year old has access to his @straightdroppp account or who it was that posted the message, or the exact significance of ‘201’. 

Another message posted to the account’s IG stories and as a new post, showed an interview with Shelby County Judge Christopher Craft. He explained why he had given Johnson, who was 18 at the time, a second chance after a 2017 shooting. Three people were shot at resulting in two people being injured at the Billy Hardwick Bowling Alley. 

Craft explained to the media that Justin had no previous record at that time so he was given a second chance. “The first time he used a gun, we gave him some slack because of him immediately cooperating and doing everything.” Johnson was given a five year sentence but was released on probation after a few months. It was revoked later on when he was picked up on a federal weapons charge. He had to do additional time as a result. He went in on March 11, 2019 and was released on May 25, 2021 for good behavior.

An additional message was posted to his alleged account stating “Next time post the REAL … BS a– blogs.” Instagram history shows the account in no question used to be called “justintjohnson123,” the phone number and email belong to the suspect as well. On Spotify, Johnson’s verified account shows him as the writer of many of his songs. Five days after Dolph’s murder, Straight Drop posted on his IG about his new song, linked the YouTube video in his profile. 

The video left fans confused about Johnson’s  connection to Dolph’s label “Paper Route Empire”. He was spotted in a video wearing a PRE chain similar to what the slain rapper used to wear. The Memphis Police Department declined to comment when asked about the messages.  

Johnson is wanted for the November 17 first degree murder of Young Dolph. The suspect may have helped authorities get a few steps closer to his arrest while he made moves for his music career. Justin has an aspiring music career and TMZ reported he shot a music video using spots around the city for his backdrops. One of those very backdrops included what appeared to be the home where authorities tracked down a white Mercedes; also identified as the getaway car allegedly used in the Dolph killing. 

Suspect was born April 10, 1998, is approximately 5-feet-8-inches tall, weighs around 190 pounds and the name “Jaiya” is tattooed on his right arm. The Marshals Service cautioned that he “has ties to organized criminal gangs and should be considered armed and dangerous.” The Tennessee Bureau of Investigations has added the 23 year old suspect to their “Most Wanted” list. There’s a reward offering of up to $15,000 for any information that leads them to the capture of Johnson.

In the artist’s music video “Going Straight,” that was posted to YouTube November 21, 2021 (four days after Dolph’s death), fans made the chilling connection. One fan threw his thoughts in the ring stating “You dumped the getaway car at the same spot you shot a music video. This what happen when your highest level of education is 3rd grade.”

CNN reported the slain victim, Adolph Robert Thornton, Jr widely known as Young Dolph, came home to his old stomping grounds in Memphis for his yearly hand out of Thanksgiving Turkeys for his community. He pulled up to the famous Makeda’s Homemade Butter Cookies bakery, as he always did and got his favourite kind. Johnson is alleged to have gunned him down in cold blood shortly afterwards. Dolph succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. 

Dolph’s longtime girlfriend Mia Jay recently posted a statement on her Instagram saying “This is just the beginning. We are still prayerful that all attacks, plots and plans that were made against Adolph’s life are revealed and justice is diligently served.”

The slain rapper leaves behind his beautiful partner Mia Jay and their two young children.