A Young Dolph murder suspect has been released after he was mistakenly linked to the rapper’s demise. According to Action News 5, the suspect named Shundale Barnett was recently arrested on Monday (Jan. 27) and charged with two crimes, including theft of property in connection to Dolph’s November 2021 death.
Justin Johnson, the man found guilty in 2024 of killing the Memphis rapper and was sentenced to life, was discovered to be the cousin of Barnett. In uncovering this information, law enforcement tracked Barnett to Indiana at the time of his detainment and was charged with accessory after the fact and attempted first-degree murder in the case.
However, authorities concluded that Barnett was not involved in the case and that the charges against the man should have been dropped. The Shelby County District Attorney released a statement regarding the mistake, addressing their decision to let Barnett go.
“During the investigation of Justin Johnson, Shundale Barnett was found with [Justin] Johnson at the time of his arrest in Indiana,” the statement read. “Based on this and other facts, a task force officer with the U.S. Marshals determined there was probable cause to charge Barnett with Accessory After the Fact, and an arrest warrant was issued as part of standard procedure.
“As the investigation progressed, the DA’s Office determined that Barnett was not involved in the case and chose not to pursue charges, indicating the charge would be withdrawn. However, a delay in recalling the warrant left it active in the system. This clerical issue has now been resolved, and the charges against Barnett have been officially dismissed.”
It should be noted that Hernandez Govan, the alleged mastermind behind Dolph’s demise, is set to head to trial this summer.
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