(NEXSTAR) – News of the death of rapper Young Dolph, who was reportedly gunned down in Memphis Wednesday, prompted an outpouring of grief on social media.
Dolph, whose real name is Adolph Thorton Jr., was killed during a shooting at a cookie shop, a law enforcement source told Nexstar’s WREG.
The 36-year-old rapper’s first album, “King of Memphis,” rocketed up the Billboard 200 chart to the 49th spot in 2016.
Among those mourning the rapper’s death Wednesday was former NFL star and current college football coach Deion Sanders, who tweeted a heartfelt prayer after hearing the news: “Lord help us as a people stop the hate, the violence and the hopelessness. When we realize we matter others will as well. Lord help us right now.”
Sanders, who coaches the Jackson State football team, also shared images of himself and Dolph:
Sources said Young Dolph was shot and killed at Makeda’s Butter Cookies, which posted a video of the rapper stopping by in July. Dolph was known for giving back to the local community, WREG reports. He met with rapper Key Glock outside a Memphis cancer center Monday to give away 200 turkeys and donated $25,000 last year to the Memphis high school he attended
American Rapper Young Dolph performs during the Astroworld Festival at NRG Stadium on November 9, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by SUZANNE CORDEIRO / AFP) (Photo by SUZANNE CORDEIRO/AFP via Getty Images) 
HOLLYWOOD, CA – FEBRUARY 16: Rapper Young Dolph and guest attend the Def Jam Celebrates NBA All Star Weekend at Milk Studios in Hollywood With Performances by 2 Chainz, Fabolous & Jadakiss, Presented by Patron Tequila at Milk Studios on February 16, 2018 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for Def Jam ) 
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) 
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)
News of Young Dolph’s death reverberated in the hip-hop community with artists posting heartfelt messages Wednesday:
