Man sentenced to life in prison for murder of Young Dolph

Justin Johnson was found guilty of the first-degree murder of Young Dolph in 2021 and sentenced to life in prison.

The Memphis rapper, real name Adolph Thornton Jr., was shot 22 times in his hometown on November 17, 2021. Eyewitnesses claimed at the time that the 36-year-old was shot through the window of a bakery in the city.

Johnson was also found guilty of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and possession of a firearm as a convicted felon (via FOX13). The four-day trial ended on Thursday (September 26), with the jury deliberating for about four hours.

Johnson's sentence from Judge Jennifer Mitchell was on the first-degree murder charge, with sentencing on other charges set to follow in November. Johnson never stepped into the defensive position.

“Every murder is a tragedy, and we take them all seriously,” said Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy. “This film attracted additional public interest because Young Dolph was a prominent and popular member of the community. We will continue to fight hard to ensure that all those responsible for his death are brought to justice.”

Cornelius Smith, another suspected shooter in the murder, took the stand on Monday (September 23) after pleading guilty to murder charges. He testified that he and Johnson carried out the hit on the rapper after Yo Gotti's brother Anthony “Big Jook” Mims and Hernandez “Quett” Govan put a $100,000 bounty on his head.

Smith claimed that he and Johnson both expected to collect $40,000 for the murder, but said he only ended up receiving $800, although Big Jook later paid $50,000 in legal fees. Big Jook himself was murdered while leaving a funeral in January this year.

During his court appearance, Smith claimed he was trying to make money to help his family. “Man, I tried to please her,” he said, referring to his daughter. “I don't have any money, I'm trying to get some money that day. So I’m trying to make sure my little girl has a great birthday.”

In a statement to Rolling Stone In January 2023, Dolph's aunt Rita Myers said the rapper's family had been traumatized by his murder. “Our family has suffered a tremendous loss because he was the glue that held our family together,” she said. “I still cry, day and night.”

A private funeral was held in November 2022, before a stretch of street in the neighborhood where he grew up was renamed in his honor the following month.

Paper Route Empire released Dolph's first posthumous album, Paper Route Frank, in December 2022, featuring guest appearances from Gucci Mane, 2 Chainz and Key Glock.

Shortly before his murder, Dolph was said to be close to completing the album – his ninth album and the follow-up to 2020's “Rich Slave”.