Episode 8

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Published on:

15th Jun 2026

The Hunt for Young Dolph's Killers

On November 17, 2021, Memphis rap icon Young Dolph walked into a neighborhood cookie shop and never walked out.

In broad daylight, two gunmen opened fire inside Makeda's Homemade Butter Cookies, killing the beloved rapper and entrepreneur in a shocking attack that stunned Memphis and made national headlines. What followed was a complex homicide investigation, a multi-state manhunt, and a relentless effort by law enforcement to bring the killers to justice.

In this episode of Chasing Evil, host Christopher Godsick is joined by Shelby County Deputy District Attorney Paul Hagerman, members of the U.S. Marshals Service Two Rivers Violent Fugitive Task Force, and investigators who helped track down fugitive Justin Johnson.

You'll hear how investigators connected the suspects to the crime, followed digital and physical evidence across multiple states, utilized public tips, and ultimately captured one of the nation's most wanted fugitives.

This is the inside story of the Young Dolph murder investigation, the violent feud that led to it, and the pursuit of justice that followed.

Chasing Evil is produced in cooperation with the United States Marshals Service.

Featured Guests

• Paul Hagerman – Deputy District Attorney, Shelby County, Tennessee

• Seth Bruce – Supervisory Deputy U.S. Marshal, Two Rivers Violent Fugitive Task Force

• Justin Bischoff – Shelby County Sheriff's Office / Task Force Officer

• Walter Doty – Retired Memphis Police Department Gang Investigator

• Mike Miller – Senior Inspector, U.S. Marshals Service, Southern District of Indiana

Topics Covered

• Young Dolph's rise from Memphis neighborhoods to international rap stardom

• The rivalry between CMG and Paper Route Empire

• Prior acts of violence connected to the feud

• The murder at Makeda's Homemade Butter Cookies

• How investigators identified Justin Johnson and Cornelius Smith

• The evidence presented to the grand jury

• The nationwide fugitive investigation

• Tracking suspects through surveillance systems and digital evidence

• The role of public tips and intelligence gathering

• The arrest operation in Indiana

• Trial testimony and conviction

• Sentencing and the ongoing appeals process

About Chasing Evil

Chasing Evil takes listeners inside major criminal investigations through conversations with the law enforcement professionals, prosecutors, victims, and witnesses who lived them. Produced in cooperation with the United States Marshals Service, the series provides a rare behind-the-scenes look at the pursuit of justice.

If you enjoy the show, please subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with others interested in true crime and criminal investigations.

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About the Podcast

Chasing Evil
A compelling true crime podcast featuring never-before-heard moments of real crimes told by the survivors and those who were called in to chase - and ultimately stop - evil. Host and creator, Emmy award-winning film and television producer Christopher Godsick, goes behind the scenes to share the untold stories of criminal cases including the infamous fraudster Bernie Madoff, notorious drug lord El Chapo, the recovery of missing children and much more.

About your host

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Chris Godsick

I have worked in the entertainment community for my whole career, and in all the jobs I’ve had, they all have one thing in common, the search for great stories and engaging characters. I started my career sorting mail at the William Morris Agency in LA, and with a lot of luck and perseverance, I eventually became a motion picture agent. I worked with some of the top talent in Hollywood and also met my future bride. After a few years I left to team up with my client, legendary director John Woo. We did some fun action films like “Broken Arrow” and “Face Off”. I then joined New Line Cinema as a Sr. Vice President of Production where I bought the future hit “Shazam," got yelled at by Sean Connery, and won a bet with Adam Sandler. I left three years later to produce “Take the Lead” starring Antonio Banderas. One day I was introduced to the extremely talented British writer and director Armando Iannucci and a year later we started work on what would become the comedy hit “Veep” for HBO. I was nominated for five Emmys for my work as an Executive Producer and was fortunate enough to win two statues. I was still on top of the world when I returned home after the celebrations and my wife reminded me that it was trash night and the cans needed to be taken out to the curb! I’ve developed projects in several different genres and now I’m diving into something new. I found what I was searching for… great stories and engaging characters…and now I’m hooked!!