Murder trial of Memphis rapper Young Dolph set to begin | News

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – One of the men accused of murdering Memphis rapper Young Dolph, also known as Adolph Thornton Jr., began trial on Monday, September 23. 

FOX13 reporter Jeremy Pierre has been in the courtroom during the entirety of the trial. Continue to check this story for live updates on the trial. 

5:09 p.m., September 23 – End of Day One

Day one of the trial concluded around 5:09 p.m. The judge said that trial will resume at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, September 24. 

4:47 p.m., September 23 – Third witness

Dr. Juliette Scantlebury, medical examiner and an expert in forensic pathology was the third witness of the day. Dr. Scantlebury performed the autopsy on Young Dolph on November 18, 2021. Dr. Scantlebury looked at photos from the autopsy and described to the jury the injuries she saw on Young Dolph. She also described the clothing and property that were on Thornton at the time of his death.  

A shirt shown to the jury and Dr. Scantlebury showed the shirts Young Dolph was wearing at the time of the shooting. White squares on the shirts showed where bullet holes in the clothing were. 

Recovered from Young Dolph’s body were multiple bullet fragments, Dr. Scantlebury testified. 

Dr. Scantlebury said that the active ingredient of marijuana was discovered in Young Dolph’s body. Young Dolph suffered 20 entry wounds and four exit wounds from gunshots, according to Dr. Scantlebury. The doctor testified that Young Dolph died a homicide of gunshot wounds. 

In cross-examination, Evans, Johnson’s defense attorney, asked if any bullets recovered were in tact. The doctor said that one was.

3:16 p.m., September 23 – Cross-examination of Cornelius Smith 

Luke Evans, defense attorney for Justin Johnson, began cross-examining Cornelius Smith by calling into question what he told law enforcement immediately following his arrest. Smith admitted to lying about having never seen the Mercedes and not knowing Johnson. Smith said that he met with law enforcement three or four times to prepare for the trial. 

Evans claimed that Smith’s original lawyer got $50,000 to represent him in the case. Smith admitted that money came from CMG, the record label of Yo Gotti and Big Jook. “There’s no question that that money was for services rendered, for killing Dolph,” Evans said. The defense attorney said that Smith’s conscious did not bother him when he got the money to retain an attorney. “You didn’t think then, ‘Man, I really shouldn’t get money for killing somebody,” Evans said. 

Regarding the picture of Johnson with his suitcase packed, taken after Dolph’s murder, Smith admitted that he doesn’t know if Johnson was ever paid for the hit on Young Dolph.  

Evans claimed that Smith got a lawyer in March and met with law enforcement in March 2022. “You said you had a change of heart and you wanted to tell the truth. When did that happen?” Evans asked. Smith said he had this change of heart after he was arrested and sobered up. Smith was arrested on December 9. Smith said that Johnson sent him a letter saying, “Cut (Johnson) loose and take Jook and (Govan) down with (Smith).” Smith admitted to not getting that letter directly from Johnson and not seeing Johnson write the letter. 

Smith met with prosecutors in August. “So, today, for the first time ever, you testified that you wiped that Mercedes down,” Evans asked. Smith admitted that he never told detectives that he cleaned the Mercedes. Evans asked Smith why he never told detectives about wiping down the car. Records show that Smith told detectives “Justin said that he had someone wipe the car down.” “Stuff slip a person’s mind too,” Smith rebutted. 

Smith said that he wiped the car down “a couple of days after the shooting.” Smith testified that he told Govan that he was going to go into the backyard and wipe the car down. According to Evans, Smith never told law enforcement about that conversation with Govan. “Stuff slip a person’s mind at the time. When law enforcement question me, I’m not going to remember everything right there, bit for bit,” Smith said. 

Evans said that law enforcement asked Smith about the $800 he was allegedly given after the shooting. The defense attorney clarified that Smith testified that Johnson hand delivered a letter with $500. Smith said that he was on a phone with Johnson and a neighbor at the time of that delivery. Evans then questioned Smith and implied that he could not remember the details about the alleged payments because was lying. 

Evans asked Smith if he said that he could “get up on Dolph real easy” because he knew where Young Dolph’s aunt lived and that he saw him over there once a week. Smith denied every saying that. 

Evans asked Smith if he expected to get consideration after his testimony. Smith said he did not and that he was testifying to get everything on his chest and feel better. But, according to Evans, Smith told his sisters a different story after his arrest in 2022. According to Evans, Smith wrote, “My laywer is trying to tell me my best out is working with the feds, helping them, something I’ve never done in my life…That’s the only way I will not do life in jail.” Evans said that Smith then wrote that he hoped to not do any time because his lawyer represented a suspect in the Holly Bobo case. Evans continued reading Smith’s letter, saying that Smith wrote “they got to let me walk free.” 

Evans then asked Smith why he lied to his family. Smith said he was hoping for the best and trying to “speak it into existence.” Smith said that he realized that Govan had already spoken to law enforcement and realized that “they already know everything.” Smith wrote to his sisters that he met with Govan and that “it seemed like he had a limited time to find someone to pin it on.” 

“You repeatedly say in these letters to your sister that you didn’t do this and you’re only (going to cooperate) to get yourself a deal,” Evans said. 

Evans then shifted questioning to the subject of the $50,000 Smith was given for an attorney. The defense attorney questioned the timeline of the money and when Smith admitted to receiving it. 

Smith admitted that he tried to get his girlfriend to lie for him in order to create an alibi. Evans then asked Smith if he knew, the day before the murder, that he was going to kill Young Dolph. Smith said he was out “looking for somebody.” According to Evans, Smith texted someone on the morning Young Dolph was murdered saying it was “his big day.” Smith said he was referring his daughter’s birthday. Smith admitted to telling his child’s mother that he was going to get her a house and buy her a house. Smith said this was “just game” and that lying and “game” are two different things. When asked if he was lying to the jury, Smith said, “I ain’t trying to run game on nobody.” 

During the shooting at Makeda’s Homemade Butter Cookies, Smith said that Johnson got scraped on the back by a bullet fired by Young Dolph’s brother. Smith said that would care was done on Johnson after the shooting. Evans said that Smith originally told law enforcement that he was bleeding “really bad.” On the stand,  Smith said he was not bleeding that bad. He clarified by saying that he had been shot before and wasn’t overly worried about the wounds he suffered. According to Smith, Johnson told him that he was hit in the shootout at Makeda’s. 

Evans then questioned Smith about the deal between Johnson and Big Jook. According to Evans, Smith told investigators he “thought” Johnson had the same deal. The defense attorney implied that this contradicted Smith’s testimony that he knew Johnson was given the same deal; $50,000 for the murder of Young Dolph with $10,000 to be paid to Hernandez Govan.  

Evans questioned Smith about how exactly he wiped down the white Mercedes after the shooting. Smith said that he used a towel to wipe down the car and that he was driven to the house by his girlfriend. 

Smith then testified that Govan told he and Johnson to take care of the car because if the police come to him the was going to send the police to his attorney. Prosecutor Paul Hagerman then asked Smith if he ever told him that he was going to walk out of jail. Smith said no, that he always understood that he was going to prison. 

1:48 p.m., September 23 – Cornelius Smith testifies

Court resumed with the testimony of Cornelius Smith, one of the men prosecutors claimed killed Memphis rapper Young Dolph. Smith’s testimony began by him acknowledging that the prosecution made him no promises, that he knew he was not going to go home free and that he knew he was going to prison for his role in Young Dolph’s death. 

Smith said he began using drugs again after his 9-year-old son died in 2020. Smith admitted to lying to police after he was originally arrested on unrelated charges in Mississippi. He said he decided to “tell the truth” because he realized he had been caught and that he “had a conscious.” 

Prosecutor Paul Hagerman showed video of two men shooting into the window of Makeda’s Homemade Butter Cookies. Smith said, “That was the day we had shot Young Dolph.” When asked who the “we” was, Smith identified Justin Johnson as the second gunman in the video. Smith said that both he and Johnson knew Hernandez Govan and that Govan was attempting to get Johnson a deal with CMG, the record label of Yo Gotti and Big Jook. Smith said that he used to buy drugs from Govan. 

Smith knew Johnson for “a few months” before the shooting, he testified. According to Smith, he and Johnson knew that Big Jook had a “hit on Dolph’s head.” Smith said that Govan told them about that $100,000 hit. Both Smith and Johnson agreed to do the hit, he testified. Smith said that both he and Johnson were going to give Govan $10,000 after the hit and that both gunmen would take $40,000. The two had planned the process for weeks, according to Smith. 

On the day of the shooting, Smith said that Johnson picked him up from his father’s house in Orange Mound. Smith said that both he and Johnson knew that Young Dolph was in Memphis to be a part of a turkey drive. His record label, Paper Route Empire, held these Thanksgiving food drives annually. Smith said that when Johnson picked him up on the day of the shooting Johnson was driving a white Mercedes Benz. In the backseat, Smith said, was a Draco, a semi-automatic weapon, and a handgun. 

Smith said that he and Johnson saw Young Dolph’s custom car while the two were driving. “We were like, ‘There goes Dolph right there,” Smith said. According to Smith, the two began following Dolph and saw him pull into Makeda’s Homemade Butter Cookies. Smith said that the two “made the block”, “pulled up the backway,” and that he “jumped out and started shooting.” Smith had the semi-automatic weapon at the time of the shooting, he said. 

Hagerman showed video of gunmen shooting into Makeda’s. Smith identified himself and Johnson as the people in the video. “I wasn’t feeling nothing at the time,” Smith said. “I was just trying to get some money…I saw him standing by the window. I just got out of the car and started shooting.” 

After the shooting, Young Dolph’s brother can be seen on video running out of Makeda’s. Prosecutors said that Young Dolph’s brother shot at the two, hitting Smith. Smith said that they did not shoot back. Smith was shot in his shoulder, his arm and his leg. 

Smith said the two sped away from the shooting and went back to Bradley Street. The two switched cars and FacTimed Big Jook to let him know “that was our work,” Smith said. Smith said that Johnson used “jailhouse sign language” to spell out DOLPH and let Big Jook know that the hit had been carried out. 

According to Smith, he and Johnson also spoke to Govan after shooting Young Dolph. Smith said that Govan told them to get “get rid of that car”, referencing the Mercedes Benz. The pair left the car on Bradley Street, near Govan’s Orange Mound home, according to Smith. 

Hagerman then showed video of Smith driving a white Expedition and pulling into a parking lot. A woman, identified by Smith, as a family member of Johnson, approaches the car. Smith gets out of the car, visibly bleeding from a gunshot wound to the shoulder. Another man exits the car. Smith identified that man as Johnson. The second man was wearing  clothes similar to known photos of Johnson taken earlier in the day before the shooting. Smith said, once inside the apartment complex, Smith used a “wound kit” to clean up.  

Smith said that the two cleaned up and that he used Johnson’s phone to text his girlfriend. Smith said that he asked Govan to get his phone out of the glovebox of the white Mercedes. Govan told him to meet him at the car wash to get his phone back, according to Smith. Hagerman then played video of Smith and Johnson leaving the apartment complex. Smith said that he got into his girlfriend’s truck and left the apartment complex. 

Smith said that Johnson planned to get the money from Big Jook while he went to retrieve his phone and get some pills. When Smith met Govan to get his phone back, Smith said that Govan heard that one of them had been shot, that blood belonging to one of them was at the scene, and asked if they had their face masks on at the time of the shooting. Later that day, Smith said Govan “pulled up” at his dad’s house for a second conversation. Smith said that he asked Govan for more money for more pills. According to Smith, Govan pressured them to get rid of the white Mercedes used in the murder. Smith said Johnson had those keys. 

According to Smith, the guns used to murder Dolph stayed in the back of Expedition. Smith said he never saw the guns again and no one ever told him what happened to the guns.  

Smith said he had no problems with Young Dolph. “I didn’t even know Dolph…didn’t meet him a day in my life,” Smith said. Smith admitted that he was not a professional hit man, but said that he was offered $40,000 to carry out the hit. 

Smith said that the Mercedes was moved from the driveway of a home on Bradley Street to the house’s backyard. Smith said that he returned to the car and cleaned it. 

Smith touched based with Johnson several times after the shooting, he testified. According to Smith, Johnson said that Big Jook said it was “too hot” to give them the money immediately following the shooting. Smith and Big Jook had only met one time, he said. According to Smith, he, Govan and Big Jook met at Big Jook’s home. Young Dolph’s murde was discussed at that meeting, Smith said. According to Smith, he and Govan had a conversation about the him prior to the meeting with Big Jook. It was Govan, according to Smith, that put Smith and Johnson together to carry out the hit. 

Smith said that, while trying to communicate with Johnson about money following the murder, he eventually discovered that he was communicating with Jamarcus Johnson, Justin Johnson’s half-brother. According to Smith, he was eventually paid a total of $800 and given a letter saying that Big Jook advised them to develop a good story if they “get caught up.”

Prosecutor Paul Hagerman gave Smith photos. In one of the photos was a house. Smith said that Johnson shot a rap video in front of the home on Bradley Street, where the Mercedes was discovered, a few weeks before Young Dolph was murdered. In another photo, Smith identified Johnson wearing the same clothes as the gunman in the photo outside of Makeda’s. Smith then identified Johnson getting into an elevator and Johnson “ready to roll” after the shooting. Smith also identified Big Jook in the photos. 

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

Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy spoke to media during the court’s recess on Monday. Mulroy spoke about the absence of Cornelius Smith, the second alleged gunman, and the investigation into Yo Gotti’s brother Big Jook who was killed after the Young Dolph murder. Mulroy said he hopes to have the murder trial wrapped up by Wednesday. 

11:24 a.m., September 23 – Witnesses testify

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

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. He can be seen on surveillance video getting out of the side of Young Dolph’s car. 

Prosecutor Paul Hagerman asked the head of security questions about the heightened security when it came to Big Jook, brother of Yo Gotti, and members of their record label Cocaine Music Group (CMG). The head of security was asked about past incidents in North Carolina and California involving CMG members. 

11:19 a.m., September 23 – Defense opening statement

Luke Evans, the attorney for Justin Johnson, began his opening statements by urging the jury to pay very close attention to the relationships between Hernandez Govan and Justin Johnson. Evans said that he expects the jury will “hear from Govan” in the case. 

Evans continued to attack Govan’s creditability, saying that he intended to get a 30 to 60 percent piece of Justin Johnson’s potential future earnings. “He gets his claws into Mr. Johnson and what you’re going to hear is, as the process goes on, (Mr. Johnson) is going to sign with CMG. But, there comes a point in the road where what Mr. Govan wants, which is a meal ticket, a payday, and what Mr. Johnson wants, differ,” Evans said. 

In September, Evans claimed Johnson and Govan went to Atlanta to meet Big Jook. Evans claimed it was at that meeting that Johnson decided, “I’m not going to go your way” and split ties with Govan. 

Evans claimed that Govan was angry at that decision that he left Johnson in Atlanta and forced Johnson to find another way home to Memphis. 

The defense attorney also attacked the credibility of Cornelius Smith, the second alleged gunman at Makeda’s Homemade Butter Cookies on the day Young Dolph was murdered. Evans told the jury that he expects Smith to testify and that he’s been meeting with law enforcement to try to “save himself.” 

“Mr. Johnson sits before you innocent and he’ll remain that way because at the conclusion of this case, once you’ve heard all the evidence and all the testimony, you will not be convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that he did this because he didn’t,” Evans told the jury. 

In regards to the clothing Johnson wore on the day of the murder, Evans told the jury “similar doesn’t mean the same for mass produced items.” 

Evans claimed that the white Mercedes believed to be used in the murder had several sets of fingerprints, including those belonging to Cornelius Smith. Johnson’s fingerprints, according to Evans, were not found on the car. “If it was wiped and then moved and then wiped again, as the state suggest, then how are there prints on it?” Evans asked the jury. “They don’t have anything matching Johnson’s DNA.” 

11:12 a.m., September 23 – Prosecution details day of murder

Shelby County Assistant District Attorney Paul Hagerman said that Justin Johnson and Cornelius Smith ditched the white Mercedes used in the murder of Young Dolph in Orange Mound and used Johnson’s vehicle to get away form the area. Hagerman claimed that their cell phones put them in the areas of the scenes. 

Cornelius Smith was shot during the shooting, according to Hagerman. The prosecutor claimed that the pair ditched the white Mercedes after the shooting and, within 45 minutes of the murder, went to the apartment of Johnson’s cousin at the Gospel Gardens Apartments.  That’s where they tried to bandage Smith’s wounds and Johnson changed clothes, according to Hagerman. The prosecutor claimed that phone records tracked the pair’s movements and that the two are recorded on security footage from the apartment. 

Later that night, Hagerman claimed that Johnson went back to the Crosstown apartments. The prosecutor said that Johnson was recorded on video later that night with his “suitcase and everything else, ready to get the heck out of town.” 

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

During his opening statement, Shelby County Assistant District Attorney Paul Hagerman said that Big Jook, the brother of famed Memphis rapper Yo Gotti and part of Gotti’s record label CMG, put out a “hit” on Young Dolph, promising $100,000 to whoever killed Young Dolph who famously had animosity with CMG. 

“Big Jook, the person I told you about before, the number two guy at CMG, he’s put out a hit, a hit, $100,000 to whoever kills Dolph,” Hagerman said. “He has met with Justin (Johnson). He has met with Cornelius (Smith) and they think 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 of Straight Drop, was motived to become the record label’s next big artist and planned to take his part of the $100,000 to help escalate his career. 

The assistant district attorney claimed it was Johnson who drove the white Mercedes to Makeda’s Homemade Butter Cookies on the day Dolph was killed. Hagerman said that Johnson was the man holding a handgun during the shooting. 

Hagerman also showed the jury a photo which he claimed showed Johnson an hour before the murder. In that photo, the man he claimed to be Johnson is wearing an outfit similar to the gunmen seen in the photos from Makeda’s Homemade Butter Cookies, including the same Bass Pro Shop hat. 

While exiting a parking garage less than an hour before the shooting, Hagerman claimed Johnson was driving a white Mercedes with damage to the backend. Hagerman called it the “exact same car” used in the murder of Young Dolph. “You can get rid of guns. You can wipe down cars. You can disappear in neighborhoods. But it’s not 1981. It’s 2021 (at the time of the murder) and from two o’clock that morning to 12:23 the same day, he is caught, caught, caught, caught, caught again and again. And it’s not just before the murder,” Hagerman said. 

9:30 a.m. September 23 – Justin Johnson appears in court

Justin” Straight Drop” Johnson showed up to court in a blue flannel shirt. The once-amateur rapper will possibly have his former co-defendant, Cornelius Smith, testify against him, FOX13’s Jeremy Pierre reports. Accused mastermind behind Young Dolph’s murder could also testify against Johnson.

8:15 a.m. September 23 – Justin Johnson to stand trial

Sources told FOX13’s Jeremy Pierre that only Justin Johnson will stand trial starting Monday morning. As previously reported, he pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and is scheduled to face a jury from the Nashville area after a defense attorney argued that intense media coverage and social media attention would make it hard to seat a jury from Memphis.

7:15 a.m. September 23 – Young Dolph’s family issues statement

Young Dolph’s family issued a statement over the weekend expressing “their hope for justice.” The full statement — issued through the law firm DR and Associates — is below:

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

‘We remain heartbroken over the loss of Adolph, and we have faith that the legal system will bring justice to all of 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 outpouring of support from fans and the community, which has provided strength during such a difficult time of pain that has been deeply felt across Memphis and beyond.

‘We ask for privacy as the legal process unfolds, and for patience from those who stand with us. We trust that the legal system will deliver justice for Adolph, allowing us, and the community he loved, to begin the journey toward healing.’

The Thornton family encourages the media and public to avoid speculation regarding the trial and to respect the judicial process. Official updates will be provided when appropriate, as well as a press conference to be held at the trial’s conclusion. Further details will be provided once a date has been set.

4:30 a.m. September 23 – Trial set to begin

FOX13 found that an out-of-town jury has been selected for the trial but it is unclear how many of the accused men will face that jury. FOX13 received conflicting information over who will be in court.

There are four suspects in the case: Suspected shooters Justin Johnson and Cornelius Smith, alleged mastermind Hernandez Govan and the half-brother of the alleged shooters, Jermarcus Johnson.

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

RELATED: Everything we know about the murder of Young Dolph, arrests and court cases

Last year, Jermarcus Johnson pleaded guilty to accessory after the fact. He’s not directly implicated in Dolph’s murder but instead is accused of helping the suspected shooters while they ran from police.

Last month, the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office told FOX13 the only trial set to start Monday in Memphis would be Justin Johnson’s. He has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and is scheduled to face a jury from the Nashville area after a defense attorney argued that intense media coverage and social media attention would make it hard to seat a jury from Memphis.

RELATED: Young Dolph murder suspect starts trial on Monday

On Friday, the office sent another email saying it would be Justin Johnson, Hernandez Govan and Jermarcus Johnson — even though Jermarcus Johnson already pleaded guilty. FOX13 has reached out to the office for further clarification.