Big Jook attacked Young Dolph, Memphis prosecutors claim in court

Shelby County prosecutors allege that Big Jook, Yo Gotti's brother and a member of Yo Gotti's record label CMG, carried out a $100,000 attack on Young Dolph.

During his opening statements Monday in the trial of Justin Johnson for his involvement in the murder of Young Dolph, real name Adolf Thornton Jr., Shelby County Assistant District Attorney Paul Hagerman outlined the involvement of both Big Jook and Johnson, who performed under the stage name Straight Drop, in the murder of Thornton nearly three years ago.

Hagerman said Johnson was invited to Atlanta by Big Jook and Hernandez Govan – the man prosecutors say masterminded the fatal shooting of Young Dolph – to be signed to the CMG record label, a rival label to the Paper Route Empire founded by Thornton.

Big Jook offered Johnson the hit in order to sign him to CMG, Hagerman claimed.

Assistant District Attorney Paul Hagerman shows the jury a photograph he says shows Justin Johnson, one of the men accused of murdering rapper Young Dolph. Johnson is walking in Crosstown Concourse wearing the same outfit a shooter wore during the prosecution's opening statement in Johnson's trial in Shelby County Criminal Court in Memphis, Tennessee, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024.

Johnson's attorney, Luke Evans, said in his opening statement that Johnson did not kill Thornton and the evidence against him does not link him to the murder. Hagerman's opening statement specifically spoke about photographic evidence and the clothing Johnson was wearing that link him to the crime and the hours afterward.

Evans said similar clothing, such as a Bass Pro Shop hat, does not mean the man in the videos and surveillance photos is Johnson.

Hagerman played the surveillance video outside Makeda's Homemade Cookies that showed the moment a white Mercedes pulled up in front of the store and two men exited the vehicle. Hagerman said the man in the video holding a handgun was Johnson, the other man seen with a semi-automatic weapon was Cornelius Smith.

Smith also faces numerous charges in connection with the killing of Young Dolph.

District Attorney Steve Mulroy was present in the courtroom for portions of the opening statements. Mulroy later told reporters that Smith and Govan, who are not currently on trial, could testify at the trial.

“We expect Cornelius Smith to cooperate in his testimony. What will happen to Govan and Smith will be decided at a later date either at trial or through a plea,” Mulroy said.

First witness statements

Raul Hopkins, a longtime friend and security guard of Thornton, took the witness stand to speak about the violence perpetrated against Thornton by members of the CMG.

Hopkins described a shooting in Charlotte, North Carolina, in which a van Thornton had been in shortly before was shot at.

Hagerman also played a video from Makeda's Homemade Cookies showing the shooting of Thornton. Hopkins was not questioned by the defense and left the courtroom with tears in his eyes.

Thornton's sister, Erica Thornton, also testified. She told the jury that she last saw her brother months before his murder.

Big Jook attacked Young Dolph, Memphis prosecutors claim in court

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