Jason Kandel

Driver of Gold Cadillac Sought in Shooting of Rapper in Hollywood

Rapper Young Dolph was shot and critically wounded Tuesday in Hollywood, and police were seeking the driver of a gold Cadillac Escalade SUV in connection with the crime.

The shooting occurred outside a Loews hotel about 1:15 p.m. near Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue, said Los Angeles police Officer Tony Im. The Nashville-based rapper was staying at the hotel.

Young Dolph, whose real name is Adolph Thornton Jr., got into a fight with three suspects and was thrown to the ground, at which time one of them opened fire, striking him multiple times, according to LAPD Detective Meghan Aguilar.

Thornton, 32, ran into a nearby shoe store after being shot. He was in critical condition when rushed to a hospital, where he was undergoing surgery, Aguilar said. 

"I saw blood on the floor dripping all the way to the cash register and he was laying down full of blood," one employee from the shoe store said. "He was breathing slow and his friend was there crying for help."

Police said they had two people in custody, but it was unclear if the first individual detained was the suspected shooter, who was described as a 6-foot-tall black man with a stocky build and wearing a light-colored shirt, torn jeans and white shoes. On Wednesday, police identified one of the suspects arrested in the case as Corey McClendon, 43. 

Witnesses saw him running north on Highland, which was closed between Hollywood Boulevard and Yucca Street to accommodate the investigation.

Authorities are seeking to speak with rapper Yo Gotti, who is believed to have a long-standing feud with Thornton.

"This is related in some capacity to the music industry," LAPD Captain Cory Palka said.

Earlier this year, Thornton's SUV was shot about 100 times in Charlotte, North Carolina, and he released an album titled "BulletProof" in April.

He released his debut studio album, "King of Memphis," last year.

City News Service contributed to this report. 

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