MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Two people seen in photos circulating on social media have been confirmed as suspects in the deadly shooting of rapper Young Dolph, WHBQ-TV reported Thursday, citing three independent law enforcement sources.
The photos, taken from surveillance footage, showed two people holding up guns. Their identities were not immediately known.
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Young Dolph, whose real name was Adolph Robert Thornton Jr., died Wednesday after being shot inside Makeda’s Cookies, a bakery he frequented in South Memphis, WHBQ reported. The cookie shop posted a video last week on Instagram featuring the rapper.
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In a statement obtained by WHBQ, police called Wednesday’s shooting “senseless.”
“Our hearts go out to the Thornton family and all who were affected by this horrific act of violence,” the statement said.
Young Dolph, 36, released his debut album “King of Memphis” in 2016. His second album, “Rich Slave” was released in 2020 and peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 chart.
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He was well known around the Memphis area, where he handed out turkeys for Thanksgiving, spoke to schoolchildren and donated money to his former high school, WHBQ reported. The news station reported he was set to hand out turkeys Friday at St. James Missionary Baptist Church.
PARIS, FRANCE – NOVEMBER 29: Young Dolph from Young Dolph & Key Glock performs at Le Trianon on November 29, 2019 in Paris, France. (Photo by David Wolff – Patrick/Redferns for ABA)
COLLEGE PARK, GEORGIA – AUGUST 23: Rapper Young Dolph performs on stage during the Parking Lot Concert series at Gateway Center Arena on August 23, 2020 in College Park, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – OCTOBER 05: Young Dolph
attends the BET Hip Hop Awards 2019 at Cobb Energy Center on October 05, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 24: Young Dolph attends night three of the STAPLES Center Concert, sponsored by Sprite, during the 2017 BET Experience at Staples Center on June 24, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for BET)
LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 24: Young Dolph performs onstage at night three of the STAPLES Center Concert, sponsored by Sprite, during the 2017 BET Experience at Staples Center on June 24, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for BET)
LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 24: Young Dolph at day 2 of the Radio Broadcast Center, sponsored by Sprite, during the 2017 BET Awards at Microsoft Square on June 24, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Maury Phillips/Getty Images for BET)
ATLANTA, GA – JULY 22: Rapper Young Dolph performs on stage at Gucci and Friends Homecoming Concert at Fox Theatre on July 22, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for Atlantic Records)
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 14: Musician Young Dolph attends the Luar fashion show during New York Fashion Week September 2016 at The Standard, Highline on September 14, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for MADE Fashion Week)
LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 25: Rapper Young Dolph performs onstage at night four of the Late Night Concert during the 2017 BET Experience at The Novo by Microsoft on June 25, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BET)