The wife of slain rapper Young Dolph has come forward to talks about the struggles she’s faced since the murder of her soulmate, Young Dolph. In her first television interview, Mia Jaye speaks on how “picking up all of the pieces” and being strong for her kids has been tough. Mia Jaye Reveals Her Struggles […]
A third suspect, Shundale Bennet was arrested and charged with accessory after the fact in connection to Young Dolph’s murder. US Marshals say Barnett had allegedly been helping Johnson since the authorities began searching for the suspect. Young Dolph Murder Suspects Now Charged U.S Marshals announced the arrest of Justin Johnson, 23, on Tuesday after […]
Nearly two months after the death of Memphis rapper Young Dolph, the late rapper’s fiancee Mia Jaye granted her first interview with ABC News Live Prime to talk about the effects his death has had on her and their family. Dolph and Mia have two children together, and Dolph often said that he wanted to retire from rap to spend more time with them. Mia explained how important the kids were to him in the interview.
“It’s been extremely difficult, just having to pick up the pieces and to find the strength for my children,” she said. That is the one thing: Adolph and myself felt we had a duty to them. To protect them, to raise them, to just do so much for them, and together. Now that he’s no longer here, it’s just very tough for me to be strong for them and also be strong for myself because Adolph was my soulmate when I say they stole my future, it has taken a long time to iron out the kinks.”
“It’s been extremely difficult, just having to pick up the pieces and to find the strength for my children…That was my soulmate.”
In her first interview since Young Dolph’s murder, his longtime partner Mia Jaye speaks about their relationship, family. https://t.co/KheeaV9q5l pic.twitter.com/8tDSLSGZWs
— ABC News Live (@ABCNewsLive) January 13, 2022
Dolph was shot to death outside a Memphis bakery while buying cookies. Police have made two arrests and indicted three suspects so far. A street in Memphis was renamed for the late rapper, nodding to his importance to his hometown, while collaborators like Gucci Mane and his own Paper Route Empire label have also paid musical tribute.
You can watch Mia Jaye’s interview above.
Yesterday, TMZ reported that 23-year-old Justin Johnson, a Memphis rapper and the lead suspect in the shooting death of Young Dolph, was detained in Indiana nearly two months after the incident. Johnson was the second person arrested in the shooting; 32-year-old Cornelius Smith was previously taken into custody following a separate incident that involved the same white car that was believed to be the getaway vehicle in Dolph’s murder. During a press conference on Wednesday, U.S. Marshal Tyreece Miller revealed that a third suspect has been detained.
That person is 27-year-old Shundale Barnett, who was arrested after he was found in the same car as Johnson and charged with being an after-the-fact accessory to first-degree murder. Miller noted that after law enforcement agencies received over 500 tips after they offered a $15,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in the case. These tips took U.S. Marshals to Indianapolis, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, and Hampton, Virginia in search of their suspect.
“It’s a big deal,” Miller said. “We’re proud of the work that everybody you see standing up here has done and even some that you don’t see.” He added, “There are a lot of unseen heroes that participated in the case … I think we are the best of the best. We get results and today’s announcement demonstrates that.”
Johnson faces charges for first-degree murder, criminal attempt first-degree murder, and theft of property between $10,000-$60,000. Smith was previously hit with multiple charges including first-degree murder.
You can watch a video from the press conference above.
Both of the Young Dolph’s suspected killers are now in custody. The final suspect on the LAM last week was apprehended after law enforcement issued an APB for his capture and a $15,000 reward for tips on his whereabouts. Young Dolph Suspects Captured Suspect Justin Johnson was apprehended Tuesday on the run in Indiana. Johnson […]
A suspect in the November murder of Young Dolph has been arrested in Indiana, according to TMZ. The publication reports that Justin Johnson, who was identified over the weekend as a suspect in the case, was taken into custody on Tuesday, nearly two months after the shooting. He faces charges for first-degree murder, criminal attempt first-degree murder, and theft of property between $10,000-$60,000. According to Stereogum, a second suspect in the case, 32-year-old Cornelius Smith, was previously indicted on several charges, including first-degree murder. Smith was already in jail after he was arrested for an incident that involved the white car that was believed to be the gateway vehicle in Dolph’s murder.
After U.S. Marshals, Memphis Police Department, and the Tennessee Bureau Of Investigation (TBI) identified Johnson as a suspect in Dolph’s shooting and issued a warrant for his arrest, Johnson claimed he was not involved in the crime. Nevertheless, in a post to his Instagram account @straightdroppp, he said he would surrender to police while vouching for his innocence. “Turning myself in Monday @201, I’m innocent,” he wrote. “I’ll be back sooner than you can blink.” Despite this, Monday came and went without him surrendering to the police, as Memphis’ FOX 13 confirmed he was still on the run.
When images of Johnson were shared by U.S. Marshals, Memphis Police Department, and TBI, people quickly noticed that he appeared near Dolph in multiple pictures. In some instances, Johnson was seen wearing a chain that read “PRE,” which is the acronym for Dolph’s Paper Route Empire label.
In honor of the late Young Dolph, the Memphis rapper’s label Paper Route Empire has planned a compilation album featuring tributes from his proteges and friends. Titled Paper Route Empire Presents: Long Live Dolph, the compilation will feature Big Moochie Grape, Kenny Muney, Key Glock, Snupe Bandz, and more, and is planned for release on January 21.
Paper Route CEO Daddyo told Rolling Stone, “My best friend, brother, and loyal business partner Dolph was loved and admired by people all over the world. He led by example and influenced so many people both near and far. The world will never be the same without Dolph but I know he’d want me to continue his legacy by working hard to push all our artists to the next level and make PRE an international brand. I hope his fans love it as much as I do.”
The first single from the album is “LLD” by Jay Fizzle, Dolph’s cousin and one of his PRE artists. You can check it out below.
Dolph was killed in a shooting in front of a local bakery in his hometown. Police revealed one of the suspects was 23-year-old Justin Johnson, who was later seen wearing Dolph’s PRE chain but was not affiliated with the late rapper.
Paper Route Empire Presents: Long Live Dolph is due 1/21 via Empire and PRE.
