Murder trial of Memphis rapper Young Dolph begins | News

MEMPHIS, Tennessee – The trial of one of the men accused in the murder of Memphis rapper Young Dolph begins Monday.

FOX13 reporter Jeremy Pierre will be in the courtroom throughout the trial. Continue to follow this story for live updates on the trial.

1:00 p.m., September 23 – Court session in recess

Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy spoke to the media during court's recess Monday. Mulroy discussed the absence of Cornelius Smith, the second suspected shooter, and the investigation into Yo Gotti's brother, Big Jook, who was killed after Young Dolph was killed. Mulroy said he hopes to wrap up the murder trial by Wednesday.

11:24 am, September 23 – Witness statements

Young Dolph's sister was the first witness called to the stand by the prosecution. She was asked about Young Dolph's family and the funeral ceremony.

The second witness called to the stand was Young Dolph's head of security. The head of security was not with Dolph on the day of the murder. Instead, Dolph's brother was with the rapper at the time. Surveillance video shows him getting out of the side of Young Dolph's car.

District Attorney Paul Hagerman asked the security chief questions about the increased security measures surrounding Big Jook, Yo Gotti's brother, and members of their record label Cocaine Music Group (CMG). The security chief was asked about previous incidents in North Carolina and California involving members of CMG.

September 23, 11:19 a.m. – Opening statement by the defense

Luke Evans, Justin Johnson's attorney, asked the jury in his opening statement to pay special attention to the relationship between Hernandez Govan and Justin Johnson. Evans said he expected the jury to “hear from Govan” in this case.

Evans continued to attack Govan's credibility, saying he intended to get a 30 to 60 percent share of Justin Johnson's potential future income. “He is sinking his claws into Mr Johnson and you will hear as the proceedings progress that (Mr Johnson) will sign with CMG. But there comes a point where what Mr Govan wants – which is a meal voucher, a payday – and what Mr Johnson wants differ,” Evans said.

In September, Evans claimed that Johnson and Govan traveled to Atlanta to meet Big Jook. Evans claimed that at that meeting, Johnson decided, “I'm not going to go your way” and severed ties with Govan.

Evans claimed that Govan was so angry about this decision that he left Johnson behind in Atlanta and forced him to find another way home to Memphis.

The defense also attacked the credibility of Cornelius Smith, the second suspected shooter at Makeda's Homemade Butter Cookies on the day of Young Dolph's murder. Evans told the jury he expected Smith to testify and that he had met with law enforcement to try to “save himself.”

“Mr Johnson sits before you innocent and that will remain so because at the end of the case, when you have heard all the evidence and witness testimony, you will not be convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that he did this, because he did not,” Evans told the jury.

Referring to the clothes Johnson wore on the day of the murder, Evans told the jury that “similar in mass-produced clothing does not mean the same.”

Evans claimed that the white Mercedes believed to have been used in the murder had several fingerprints on it, including those of Cornelius Smith. Johnson's fingerprints were not found on the car, Evans said. “If it was wiped and then moved and then wiped again, as the state suspects, how can there be prints on it?” Evans asked the jury. “You have nothing that matches Johnson's DNA.”

September 23, 11:12 a.m. – Public prosecutor announces details of the day of the murder

Shelby County Assistant District Attorney Paul Hagerman said Justin Johnson and Cornelius Smith abandoned the white Mercedes used in the murder of Young Dolph in Orange Mound and used Johnson's vehicle to escape the area. Hagerman claimed they were at the crime scene using their cellphones.

According to Hagerman, Cornelius Smith was shot during the shooting. The prosecutor alleged that the couple abandoned the white Mercedes after the shooting and went to Johnson's cousin's apartment at the Gospel Gardens Apartments within 45 minutes of the murder. There, they attempted to dress Smith's wounds and Johnson changed clothes, Hagerman said. The prosecutor alleged that the couple's movements were tracked through phone records and the two were recorded on surveillance video from the apartment.

Later that night, Hagerman said, Johnson returned to the Crosstown apartments. The prosecutor said Johnson was captured on video later that night with his “suitcase and everything else, ready to leave town.”

10:35 a.m., September 23 – Opening speech

In his opening statement, Shelby County Assistant District Attorney Paul Hagerman said that Big Jook, the brother of famous Memphis rapper Yo Gotti and a member of Gotti's record label CMG, ordered a “murder” on Young Dolph and promised $100,000 to Young Dolph's killer, who was known to be feuding with CMG.

“Big Jook, the person I told you about earlier, the number two guy at CMG, has put out a hit and run, a hit and run, $100,000 to whoever kills Dolph,” Hagerman said. “He's met with Justin (Johnson). He's met with Cornelius (Smith) and they believe they're ready to do it.”

RELATED: Yo Gotti's brother 'Big Jook' killed in shooting outside Memphis restaurant, police confirm

Hagerman argued that Justin Johnson, also known by his rap name Straight Drop, had interest in becoming the record label's next big artist and planned to use his portion of the $100,000 to advance his career.

The assistant district attorney claimed that Johnson drove the white Mercedes to Makeda's Homemade Butter Cookies on the day of Dolph's murder. Hagerman said Johnson was the man holding a gun during the shooting.

Hagerman also showed the jury a photograph he said shows Johnson an hour before the murder. In that photo, the man he claimed was Johnson is wearing an outfit similar to the shooters in the Makeda's Homemade Butter Cookies photos, including the same Bass Pro Shop hat.

As he pulled out of a parking garage less than an hour before the shooting, Hagerman claimed Johnson drove away in a white Mercedes with damage to the rear. Hagerman called it “the exact same car” that was used in the murder of Young Dolph. “You can get rid of guns. You can wipe down cars. You can disappear into residential neighborhoods. But it's not 1981. It's 2021 (at the time of the murder), and from 2 a.m. to 12:23 p.m. that same day, he keeps getting caught, caught, caught, caught, caught. And not just before the murder,” Hagerman said.

9:30 am September 23 – Justin Johnson appears in Court

Justin “Straight Drop” Johnson appeared in court wearing a blue flannel shirt. The former amateur rapper may have his former co-defendant Cornelius Smith testify against him, reports Jeremy Pierre of FOX13. The alleged mastermind of Young Dolph's murder could also testify against Johnson.

8:15 a.m., September 23 – Justin Johnson in court

Sources told FOX13's Jeremy Pierre that only Justin Johnson will be in court as of Monday morning. As previously reported, he pleaded not guilty to premeditated murder and is expected to face a Nashville-area jury after a defense attorney argued that intense media coverage and social media attention would make it difficult to assemble a Memphis-based jury.

7:15 a.m., September 23 – Young Dolph’s family problems opinion

Young Dolph's family issued a statement over the weekend expressing “their hope for justice.” The full statement – issued by the law firm DR and Associates – can be found below:

“As the trial of the defendants in the tragic death of Adolph Robert Thornton Jr., known to millions as Young Dolph, approaches on Monday, September 23, 2024, his family wishes to express their hope for justice.

“We remain heartbroken over the loss of Adolph and we trust that the legal system will bring justice to all those involved in this crime. This has been an unimaginable time for our family, but the love and support of the community has given us strength as we continue to process this situation.”

The family expressed gratitude for the continued support from fans and the community, which has given them strength during this difficult time of pain that has been deeply felt throughout Memphis and beyond.

“We ask for privacy during the legal process and patience from those who stand by us. We trust that the legal system will bring justice to Adolph and allow us and the community he loved to begin the path to healing.”

The Thornton family is asking the media and public to avoid speculation about the trial and to respect the process. Official updates will be provided in due course and there will be a press conference at the conclusion of the trial. Further details will be provided once a date has been set.

4:30 a.m., September 23 – trial begins

FOX13 found that a jury of local residents has been selected for the trial, but it is unclear how many of the defendants will face that jury. FOX13 received conflicting information about who will stand trial.

There are four suspects in the case: suspected shooters Justin Johnson and Cornelius Smith, suspected mastermind Hernandez Govan, and the suspected shooter's half-brother, Jermarcus Johnson.

Young Dolph, whose real name was Adolph Thornton Jr., was shot and killed at Makeda's Homemade Cookies on November 17, 2021.

RELATED: Everything we know about Young Dolph's murder, arrests and trial

Last year, Jermarcus Johnson pleaded guilty to accessory after the fact. He is not directly involved in Dolph's murder, but is accused of helping the suspected shooters flee from police.

Last month, the Shelby County District Attorney's Office told FOX13 that the only trial scheduled to begin in Memphis on Monday would be that of Justin Johnson. He has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to face a Nashville-area jury after a defense attorney argued that intense media coverage and social media attention would make it difficult to assemble a Memphis jury.

RELATED: Murder suspect Young Dolph's trial begins Monday

On Friday, the office sent another email saying they were Justin Johnson, Hernandez Govan and Jermarcus Johnson – even though Jermarcus Johnson had already pleaded guilty. FOX13 has reached out to the office for further clarification.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.