Memphis Man Testifies in Young Dolph Murder Trial

Memphis was rocked by shocking testimony on Monday as a man confessed to his involvement in the shooting death of rapper Young Dolph. Cornelius Smith took the stand and revealed that he and another individual, Justin Johnson, were responsible for the murder after a hit was ordered by Big Jook, the brother of rapper Yo Gotti.

Smith detailed the events of November 17, 2021, when surveillance footage captured him and Johnson exiting a white Mercedes and opening fire on Young Dolph outside a Memphis cookie store. Johnson is currently on trial facing charges of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and illegal possession of a firearm, while Smith also faces similar charges.

The prosecution argued that Young Dolph’s independence as an artist and his refusal to work with Yo Gotti’s record label may have led to the hit being ordered. Young Dolph had survived previous attempts on his life, including being shot multiple times in 2017 and having his vehicle shot at over 100 times in 2017.

Smith, who admitted to being under the influence of drugs at the time of the shooting, expressed remorse for his actions after sobering up in jail. Jermarcus Johnson, who pleaded guilty to aiding the shooters, is awaiting sentencing, while Hernandez Govan has pleaded not guilty to organizing the killing.

Young Dolph, known for his mixtapes and collaborations with other artists, had a successful career with multiple albums reaching the top 10 on the Billboard 200 chart. The trial continues as more details emerge surrounding the tragic death of the talented rapper.