Tennessee Man Testifies He Helped Kill Rapper Young Dolph

A Memphis man testified on Monday that he and another person shot rapper Young Dolph. He said they did this because Big Jook, Yo Gotti’s brother, ordered a hit on the rapper.

Young Dolph Biography

Name	Young Dolph
Age	36 years
Born	July 27, 1985
Died	November 17, 2021
Net worth	$3 million
Country	American

The Shooting Incident

The man, Cornelius Smith, named himself and Justin Johnson as the shooters. He said they were the two people seen in a surveillance video on 17 November 2021. The video shows them getting out of a white Mercedes outside a cookie shop in Memphis. About 30 seconds after Young Dolph entered the store, they opened fire in broad daylight.

On the first day of Johnson’s trial, Smith testified. Johnson is facing charges for murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and being a felon with a gun.

Smith also faces murder and conspiracy charges. Johnson’s lawyer, Luke Evans, told the jury not to trust Smith’s testimony. He argued that Smith is only trying to save himself. Evans said Johnson is innocent and that wearing similar clothes to the person in the video doesn’t prove he is the same person.

Young Dolph’s Drive for Success

In his opening statement, Deputy District Attorney Paul Hagerman said that Young Dolph, whose real name was Adolph Thornton Jr., was determined to succeed on his own. He wanted to make it big as an artist and with his own label, Paper Route Empire.

Yo Gotti’s record label, Cocaine Muzic Group (now Collective Music Group), wanted Young Dolph to join them, but he refused. After that, Young Dolph made diss tracks aimed at the label, its artists, and Big Jook, the second-in-command.

Previous Shootings and Legacy

Young Dolph had experienced shootings in the past. In September 2017, he was shot multiple times after an altercation outside a hotel in Los Angeles. Earlier that year, someone fired over 100 shots at his SUV in Charlotte, North Carolina. Thankfully, he survived because his SUV had bulletproof panels.

Big Jook, whose real name was Anthony Mims, was shot and killed outside a restaurant in January 2024, according to news reports.

Smith’s Experience After the Shooting

Smith testified that he was shot in the arm and leg by Marcus Thornton, Young Dolph’s brother, as he tried to escape the shooting at the cookie store. He said he only received $800 before his arrest. Later, Big Jook paid his lawyer $50,000.

When asked by Hagerman how he felt after shooting Young Dolph, Smith replied, “I didn’t feel anything at the time. Honestly, I just wanted money.”

Smith explained that his young son had died a few months earlier, and he began “popping pills and stopped caring about anything.” He said his guilt only hit him later, once he sobered up in jail.

Jermarcus Johnson pleaded guilty in June 2023 to three charges of helping after the murder. He admitted to helping Smith and his half-brother, Justin Johnson.

Jermarcus helped the two suspects stay in touch by phone while they were hiding from the police. He also helped one of them talk to their probation officer.

Jermarcus has not been sentenced yet.

Hernandez Govan has pleaded not guilty to planning the murder.

Young Dolph’s Music Career

Young Dolph started his music career with mixtapes, beginning with “Paper Route Campaign” in 2008. His first studio album, King of Memphis, came out in 2016.

He worked with other rappers like Key Glock, Megan Thee Stallion, TI, Gucci Mane, and 2 Chainz on various projects.

Three of his albums made it to the top 10 on the Billboard 200. His 2020 album Rich Slave reached No. 4.

Conclusion

A man from Tennessee has confessed in court that he took part in the murder of rapper Young Dolph. This testimony sheds light on the tragic death of the beloved artist, who made a big impact on the music world with his mixtapes and albums. The case continues to unfold as the trial progresses.

FAQS