Case dropped day after man charged in connection to Young Dolph’s murder

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy says a man tied to the murder case of Young Dolph should not have been charged.

Shundale Barnett was arrested Monday and charged with accessory after the fact, attempted first-degree murder, and theft of property charges in connection to the murder of Memphis rapper Young Dolph.

On Tuesday, the case was dropped.

Mulroy says his office did not formally pursue charges after Barnett was captured by U.S. Marshals.

“During the investigation of Justin Johnson, Shundale Barnett was found with Johnson at the time of his arrest in Indiana. 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determined that Barnett was not involved in the case and chose not to pursue charges, indicating the charge would be withdrawn.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,“ the DA’s Office said in a statement.

The warrant for Barnett was issued in January 2022 around the time U.S. Marshalls arrested Justin Johnson in Indiana.

Barnett is the cousin of Justin Johnson.

Justin’s brother, Jermarcus Johnson, was also charged after investigators say he helped Justin and co-defendant Cornelius Smith, Jr. communicate by cellphone while they were on the run.

Jermarcus eventually pleaded guilty and was sentenced to six years probation.

Justin was sentenced to life in prison in September and tried unsuccessfully for a new trial.

Hernandez Govan, the man investigators say planned the murder, will go to trial in July.

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