In a dramatic court testimony on Monday, Cornelius Smith admitted that he and Justin Johnson were responsible for the murder of rapper Young Dolph, whose real name was Adolph Thornton Jr. Smith’s testimony, given on the first day of Johnson’s trial, revealed that the killing was allegedly orchestrated by Big Jook, the brother of fellow Memphis rapper Yo Gotti. Smith claimed that Jook had put out a hit on Young Dolph, leading to the fatal shooting on November 17, 2021, outside a Memphis cookie store.
According to Smith’s account, surveillance footage showed both him and Johnson exiting a white Mercedes just moments after Young Dolph entered the store. They then opened fire in broad daylight, killing the rapper. Smith’s testimony was part of Johnson’s trial, where Johnson is facing charges of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Smith also faces charges related to the murder, but Johnson’s defense attorney, Luke Evans, warned the jury not to trust Smith’s testimony, arguing that Smith was only trying to secure a better deal for himself. Evans further claimed that photographic evidence showing Johnson in clothing similar to that worn by one of the shooters in the surveillance footage was not sufficient proof of his involvement.
Prosecutors, led by deputy district attorney Paul Hagerman, painted a picture of Young Dolph as an independent artist and label owner who had made powerful enemies after rejecting offers to work with Yo Gotti’s Collective Music Group (formerly Cocaine Muzic Group). Dolph’s refusal to join the label, along with his diss tracks aimed at the group and its members, including Big Jook, is believed to have fueled the rivalry that led to his murder.
Young Dolph had survived previous attempts on his life, including a 2017 shooting in Los Angeles and a February 2017 incident where his SUV was targeted in a hail of more than 100 bullets in Charlotte, North Carolina. The latter attack inspired his song 100 Shots, in which he referenced surviving due to his bulletproof vehicle.
During his testimony, Smith revealed that he had received only $800 for his role in the killing, with an additional $50,000 later paid to his attorney by Big Jook. He also claimed that his conscience only caught up with him after being jailed, sobering up from drug use that had dulled his emotions at the time of the shooting. Smith further testified that Young Dolph’s brother, Marcus Thornton, shot him in the arm and leg as he fled the scene.
Jermarcus Johnson, Justin Johnson’s half-brother, had previously pleaded guilty to charges of accessory after the fact for helping the shooters evade authorities. Another individual, Hernandez Govan, has pleaded not guilty to charges of organizing the murder.
Young Dolph was a beloved figure in the rap community, having built his career independently with mixtapes like Paper Route Campaign and studio albums including King of Memphis. His 2020 album Rich Slave reached No. 4 on the Billboard 200 chart, solidifying his influence in the industry. His untimely death shocked fans and fellow artists alike, as he had collaborated with prominent names like Key Glock, Megan Thee Stallion, TI, and 2 Chainz throughout his career.
