Tennessee man says he and another man killed rapper Young Dolph | Tennessee

A Memphis man testified Monday that he and a second person shot and killed rapper Young Dolph after Big Jook, the brother of rapper Yo Gotti, killed him.

Cornelius Smith identified himself and Justin Johnson as the two people seen on surveillance video from November 17, 2021, getting out of a white Mercedes outside a cookie shop in Memphis, Tennessee, about 30 seconds after Young Dolph entered the store and then opened fire in broad daylight.

Smith testified on the first day of Johnson's trial on charges of murder, conspiracy to commit murder and illegal possession of a firearm.

Smith is also charged with murder and conspiracy. Johnson's attorney Luke Evans told the jury in his opening statement that they should not trust Smith's testimony because he was only trying to save himself. Johnson is innocent, Evans said. Photos of him wearing clothes like the person in the video do not mean he is the same person, Evans said.

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

“Trying to go it alone can create enemies,” Hagerman said.

He noticed that rival record label Cocaine Muzic Group (now known as Collective Music Group), founded by Yo Gotti, wanted Young Dolph as a collaborator, but he declined. Young Dolph later wrote diss tracks aimed at the label, its artists, and its “number two,” Big Jook.

Young Dolph had survived previous shootings. In September 2017, he was shot multiple times after a fight outside a Los Angeles hotel. In February of the same year, his SUV was shot more than 100 times in Charlotte, North Carolina. The incident was the inspiration for the song 100 Shots. He said he survived because his vehicle had bulletproof plates.

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

Smith, who said he was shot in the arm and leg by Young Dolph's brother Marcus Thornton as he fled the cookie shop shootout, testified he received only $800 before his arrest. He said his lawyer later received another $50,000 from Big Jook.

When Hagerman asked how he felt after filming Young Dolph, Smith said, “I didn't feel anything at the time. I'm not going to lie. I just wanted to make money.”

Smith testified that his young son had died a few months earlier and that he had started “popping pills and not caring about anything.” His conscience only bothered him later, after he sobered up in prison, he said.

Jermarcus Johnson pleaded guilty in June 2023 to three counts of aiding and abetting murder by assisting Smith and his half-brother Justin Johnson.

Jermarcus Johnson admitted to helping the two suspects communicate by cell phone while they were fleeing from authorities and to helping one of them communicate with his probation officer. Jermarcus Johnson has not yet been sentenced.

Hernandez Govan pleaded not guilty to organizing the murder.

Young Dolph began his career by releasing numerous mixtapes, starting with Paper Route Campaign in 2008. His numerous studio albums include his 2016 debut album King of Memphis. He has also collaborated on other mixtapes and albums with fellow rappers Key Glock, Megan Thee Stallion, TI, Gucci Mane, 2 Chainz, and others.

Three of his albums reached the top 10 of the Billboard 200, with 2020's “Rich Slave” peaking at number 4.