Cornelius Smith said he and Justin Johnson shot Young Dolph after brother of rival rapper Yo Gotti put a hit on him
A Memphis man, Cornelius Smith, testified on Monday that he and Justin Johnson shot and killed rapper Young Dolph in 2021, claiming the hit was ordered by Anthony “Big Jook” Mims, the brother of rapper Yo Gotti.
Smith told the court that he and Johnson were captured on surveillance footage on November 17, 2021, exiting a white Mercedes just moments after Young Dolph entered a cookie store in Memphis, Tennessee. The two men then opened fire on the rapper in broad daylight.
Smith’s testimony came during the first day of Johnson’s trial, where he faces charges of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Smith, who is also facing murder and conspiracy charges, testified in exchange for leniency, according to Johnson’s attorney, Luke Evans. Evans argued that Smith’s testimony could not be trusted, asserting that Johnson is innocent and that mere photos of him wearing similar clothing to those seen in the video do not prove his involvement.
Deputy District Attorney Paul Hagerman told the jury that Young Dolph, whose real name was Adolph Thornton Jr., was a fiercely independent artist with his own label, Paper Route Empire. Hagerman explained that Young Dolph had declined an offer to join Cocaine Muzic Group (now Collective Music Group), a rival label founded by Yo Gotti. The refusal and subsequent diss tracks directed at the label, its artists, and Big Jook reportedly fueled tension.
Young Dolph had survived multiple previous attempts on his life. In February 2017, his SUV was shot at over 100 times in Charlotte, North Carolina—an incident that inspired his song 100 Shots. Later that year, he was shot several times after a fight outside a Los Angeles hotel.
Smith testified that, as he fled the scene of the 2021 shooting, Young Dolph’s brother, Marcus Thornton, shot him in the arm and leg. Smith admitted to receiving only $800 for his involvement before his arrest, though he claimed Big Jook later paid $50,000 to his attorney.
When asked by Hagerman how he felt after killing Young Dolph, Smith replied, “I wasn’t feeling nothing at the time. I was trying to get some money.”
Smith explained that he had been struggling with grief after the death of his son and had turned to drugs, which he said clouded his judgment. His conscience began to bother him only after sobering up in jail.
Smith’s testimony follows a guilty plea from Jermarcus Johnson, the half-brother of Justin Johnson, in June 2023. Jermarcus admitted to serving as an accessory after the murder, helping Smith and Johnson communicate while they were on the run and assisting with probation-related matters. He has yet to be sentenced.
Hernandez Govan, who is accused of organizing the hit, has pleaded not guilty.
Young Dolph, who started his career with the release of numerous mixtapes, including Paper Route Campaign in 2008, went on to release several studio albums. His debut album, King of Memphis, came out in 2016, and he collaborated with major artists like Key Glock, Megan Thee Stallion, T.I., Gucci Mane, and 2 Chainz. Three of his albums reached the top 10 on the Billboard 200, with his 2020 album Rich Slave peaking at No. 4.