Young suspects in the Dolph shooting will face trial in March

MEMPHIS, Tennessee –

A judge on Friday set a trial date for two men charged with the murder of rapper Young Dolph during a daytime ambush at a bakery in Memphis, Tennessee.

Justin Johnson and Cornelius Smith are scheduled to go on trial on March 11 for the fatal shooting of the Memphis-born rapper, Shelby County Criminal Court Judge Lee Coffee said at a hearing.

Johnson and Smith have pleaded not guilty to charges including first-degree murder in the November 2021 shooting of Young Dolph, whose real name was Adolph Thornton Jr. used to be. A motive for the murder has not been disclosed.

The 36-year-old rapper, label owner and producer was buying cookies near his childhood home in Memphis when he was shot by two men driving to the bakery in a stolen Mercedes Benz, authorities said. The murder shocked Memphis and shocked the entertainment world.

Two other men have been charged with the murder.

Jermarcus Johnson, Justin Johnson’s half-brother, pleaded guilty to three counts of aiding and abetting on June 9, and was able to testify at the trial.

Jermarcus Johnson acknowledged helping the two suspects communicate via cell phone after the murder while they were on the run from authorities, and helping one of them communicate with his parole officer after the murder.

During questioning by District Attorney Paul Hagerman, he also acknowledged taking possession of Justin Johnson’s car. The car was not the one linked to the murder, Hagerman said. Jermarcus Johnson also identified a photo of Justin Johnson wearing the same clothes as one of the two gunmen charged with shooting Young Dolph the day the rapper was killed.

After Jermarcus Johnson’s plea hearing, Hagerman said he had no part in Young Dolph’s actual murder, but that he was one of “multiple players” doing things with it.

Another man, Hernandez Govan, has pleaded not guilty to first degree murder and conspiracy in the case. He is charged with organizing the murder. Govan has been released on bail.

Young Dolph was known in Memphis for his charitable work and his success as an independent musician and businessman. Young Dolph had been in town visiting a sick relative and handing out Thanksgiving turkeys at a church when he was killed.

After his death, Memphis named a street after him and the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies honored him during a game. Murals of the rapper have been painted all over the city and a pop-up museum featuring him opened earlier this year.

The bakery, Makeda’s Homemade Cookies, became a makeshift memorial for the slain rapper. It was closed for months after the shooting, but has since reopened.