What happened to Young Dolph? Prosecutors allege Big Jook paid $100,000 to have him murdered

Young Dolph's murder case got a significant update after Cornelius Smith testified against Anthony "Big Jook" Mims and Justin Johnson on Monday. On November 17, 2021, Young Dolph was fatally shot while reportedly picking up cookies at Makeda's Cookies in Memphis. He was 36.

Reportedly, a car pulled up at the shop and fired through the window, Young Dolph fired back at his shooters but was fatally shot. Three men were charged with the murder—Hernandez Govan, Cornelius Smith, and Justin Johnson.

Only the latter stood trial on Monday when Shelby County Assistant District Attorney Paul Hagerman alleged that Big Jook, the brother of Dolph's longtime rival, Yo Gotti, made a $100k bounty on the late rapper's head. As per Fox 13, Hagerman claimed:

"Big Jook, the person I told you about before, the number two guy at CMG, he's put out a hit, a hit [worth] $100,000 to whoever kills Dolph. He has met with Justin [Johnson]. He has met with Cornelius [Smith] and they think they're ready to do it."

Hagerman further mentioned that both Johnson and Smith, the alleged shooters met with Big Jook. He added that Johnson was the one driving the Mercedes to the Makeda Cookies location where the young rapper died as evidenced by the photo Hagerman brought. Johnson is seen in the photo wearing an outfit similar to one of the men seen firing shots that killed the Memphis rapper.

Hagerman also argued that Johnson's, aka Straight Drop, motivation was to become Yo Gotti's CMG label's next big artist. He alleged that Johnson wanted to take his part in the $100k hit to boost his career.

The prosecutor said that Yo Gotti wanted Young Dolph to join his label CMG, but he declined the offer. Young Dolph, whose real name was Adolph Thornton Jr., later wrote diss tracks targeting CMG and Yo Gotti's brother Big Jook.

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Young Dolph shooting suspect testifies

One of the three men charged with Young Dolph's murder, Cornelius Smith, testified on Monday and identified himself and Justin Johnson as the two men seen on a November 17, 2021, surveillance video. The video in question showed them exiting a white Mercedes parked in front of the cookie store and opening fire around 30 seconds after the Memphis rapper entered the store.

While on the stand, Smith recalled that he was shot in the arm and the leg by Marcus Thornton, Young Dolph's brother, as he fled from the crime scene. He also testified that he got scammed out of a lot of money for the hit he did with Johnson. He told the judge that he was promised a $40,000 portion of the bounty money but only received $800 before he was arrested. Smith further mentioned that Big Jook paid him another $50,000 via his attorney.

Earlier this year, Big Jook was shot and killed on January 13, 2024, outside a restaurant in Memphis.

Smith added that Johnson was set to receive the same $40,000 and Hernandez Govan, the alleged mastermind of the killing was supposedly going to receive $20,000. As per ABC News, Smith said that they ditched the white Mercedes in the driveway of an Orange Mound residence after the shooting. He also said that he returned to clean up the Mercedes.

While Johnson has pleaded not guilty to the murder, his half-brother, Jermarcus Johnson, pled guilty to three counts of accessory last year. He is alleged to have helped his brother hide and escape after the shooting and facilitated the payments for Young Dolph's murder. Hernandez Govan has pleaded not guilty to organizing the killing.