Young Dolph Death; – A man from Memphis testified on Monday that he and another individual fatally shot rapper Young Dolph following a contract placed on him by Big Jook, the sibling of rapper Yo Gotti.
Cornelius Smith acknowledged his involvement along with Justin Johnson as the two individuals captured on surveillance footage from November 17, 2021, exiting a white Mercedes outside a cookie shop in Memphis approximately thirty seconds after Young Dolph entered the establishment, subsequently opening fire in broad daylight.
Smith provided his testimony on the first day of Johnson’s trial, where he faces charges of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and possession of a firearm as a felon.
Smith himself is also charged with murder and conspiracy. Johnson’s defense attorney, Luke Evans, cautioned the jury during his opening remarks to be skeptical of Smith’s testimony, suggesting that Smith was motivated by self-preservation. Evans asserted Johnson’s innocence, arguing that photographs of Johnson in attire similar to that of the individual in the video do not conclusively identify him as the same person.
Deputy District Attorney Paul Hagerman, in his opening statements, emphasized that Young Dolph, whose birth name was Adolph Thornton Jr., was resolute in his pursuit of success as an independent artist and through his own label, Paper Route Empire.
“Striving for independence can lead to the creation of adversaries,” Hagerman remarked.
He pointed out that the rival record label founded by Yo Gotti, Cocaine Muzic Group (now known as Collective Music Group), sought to recruit Young Dolph, who declined their offer. Subsequently, Young Dolph produced diss tracks aimed at the label, its artists, and specifically at Big Jook, referred to as the label’s “number two person.”
Young Dolph had previously survived multiple shooting incidents. In September 2017, he was shot several times following a confrontation outside a hotel in Los Angeles. Earlier that same year, his SUV was targeted in Charlotte, North Carolina, with over 100 shots fired at it. This harrowing experience inspired his song “100 Shots,” in which he credited his survival to the bulletproof panels installed in his vehicle.
Big Jook, whose real name was Anthony Mims, was reported to have been shot and killed outside a restaurant in January 2024, according to media sources. Smith also mentioned that he sustained a gunshot wound to his arm.
