MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — On Monday, a Memphis man testified that he and another individual fatally shot rapper Young Dolph as part of a hit ordered by Big Jook, the brother of rapper Yo Gotti.
Cornelius Smith confirmed he and Justin Johnson were the two men captured on surveillance footage from November 17, 2021, getting out of a white Mercedes outside a cookie shop in Memphis. They opened fire shortly after Young Dolph entered the store in broad daylight.
Smith’s testimony came on the first day of Johnson’s trial, where he faces multiple charges including murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and possession of a firearm as a felon. Interestingly, Smith himself is also facing murder and conspiracy charges. Johnson’s defense attorney, Luke Evans, cautioned the jury to be skeptical of Smith’s testimony, arguing that Smith was motivated to save himself and that merely resembling someone from the video does not prove Johnson’s guilt.
Deputy District Attorney Paul Hagerman stated during opening arguments that Young Dolph, whose birth name was Adolph Thornton Jr., aspired to establish a successful career as an independent artist with his label, Paper Route Empire. Young Dolph’s determination to succeed on his own led to tensions, particularly with the rival label Cocaine Muzic Group (now Collective Music Group), founded by Yo Gotti. Young Dolph turned down offers from this competing label, leading to a series of diss tracks he released, targeting the label and Big Jook.
During his testimony, Smith recalled that he was shot in the arm and leg by Young Dolph’s brother, Marcus Thornton, as he fled the scene of the cookie store shooting. Prior to his arrest, Smith claimed he was only paid $800, but later learned that Big Jook’s team paid his attorney an additional $50,000.
Reflecting on his feelings after the shooting, Smith admitted to Hagerman, “I wasn’t feeling nothing at the time. I’m not gonna lie. I was trying to get some money.” He revealed that shortly before the incident, he lost his young son and resorted to substance abuse, which numbed his emotions. It wasn’t until he found sobriety in jail that his conscience began to trouble him.
In related developments, Jermarcus Johnson, who is Justin Johnson’s half-brother, pleaded guilty in June 2023 to three counts of being an accessory after the fact for assisting the two gunmen while they were on the run. He admitted to facilitating communication for the suspects via cellphone during their flight from justice. His sentencing date has yet to be determined.
Another individual, Hernandez Govan, has pleaded not guilty to charges of orchestrating Young Dolph’s murder.
Young Dolph, who released numerous mixtapes starting with 2008’s “Paper Route Campaign,” gained widespread acclaim through his studio albums, including his 2016 debut, “King of Memphis.” He collaborated with prominent artists such as Key Glock, Megan Thee Stallion, T.I., Gucci Mane, and 2 Chainz. His 2020 album “Rich Slave” peaked at number 4 on the Billboard 200, with three of his albums reaching the top 10.
Young Dolph was known for surviving earlier assassination attempts, including being shot multiple times in 2017 following an altercation outside a Los Angeles hotel. Earlier that same year, his SUV was shot at over 100 times in Charlotte, North Carolina, which inspired his song “100 Shots.” He famously claimed to have survived those attacks due to bulletproof panels in his vehicle.
Travis Loller contributed to this report from Nashville, Tenn.
