A court has granted an extra 35 years in jail to a Tennessee man already serving a life sentence for the daytime ambush murder of rapper Young Dolph.
A man from Tennessee received an additional 35 years in prison on Friday for his life sentence in the daytime ambush murder of rapper Young Dolph.
On September 26, Judge Jennifer Mitchell of Shelby County handed down a life sentence without the possibility of parole to Justin Johnson following his conviction for first-degree murder. For Johnson’s two additional trial convictions—conspiracy to commit murder and being a felon in possession of a gun—she handed down his sentence on Friday.
In November 2021, Adolph Thornton Jr., also known as Young Dolph, fell victim to gunfire in a Memphis bakery. Famous for his charitable activities in his hometown, the 36-year-old rapper and owner of an independent music label was in Memphis to distribute Thanksgiving turkeys to families when an incident at his favourite cookie store startled the entertainment industry.
Johnson, a 26-year-old aspiring rapper, had three serious assault convictions before the killing, and prosecutor Paul Hagerman said at the sentencing hearing that Johnson had “no hesitation” to commit the murder-for-hire in a public setting. Hagerman described it as a “stone-cold execution” motivated by fame and fortune.
The rapper’s sister stated in court that Young Dolph “created a legacy that will endure long after this tragedy,” expressing the family’s “anger, anxiety, and grief” over the rapper’s murder.
“Many people in this world don’t think about how their actions will affect others until it’s too late,” the statement said.
Luke Evans, Johnson’s attorney, claimed that Young Dolph coerced Johnson into shooting him. According to Evans, Johnson should have a second trial since the evidence given at the first one was insufficient to warrant a conviction. Based on the murder conviction alone, Johnson would be ineligible for parole for an additional fifty years, according to Evans.
Witness Cornelius Smith testified that Anthony “Big Jook” Mims, brother of rapper Yo Gotti, had placed bounties on all the musicians affiliated with Young Dolph’s record company, Paper Route Empire, including a $100,000 hit on Young Dolph. While “looking for somebody,” Smith and Johnson “didn’t know who we were going to catch,” according to Smith.
They were en route to the turkey giveaway, having learned that Young Dolph and his artists would be present. Then they noticed his car. According to Smith, they trailed him to the cookie shop and started firing in broad daylight. After taking 22 bullets, young Dolph passed away instantly.
When Young Dolph was on trial, Hagerman informed the jury that Yo Gotti’s rival record company, the Cocaine Muzik Group (now called Collective Music Group), wanted him to accept an employment offer. Afterwards, Young Dolph composed disparaging songs directed at Big Jook, the label, and its musicians. A restaurant was the scene of a shooting that murdered Big Jook earlier this year.
Smith was only one piece of circumstantial evidence that prosecutors used; other pieces included footage from surveillance cameras and Johnson’s smartphone.
Smith has entered a not-guilty plea to many charges, including murder and conspiracy to commit murder. The court has not assigned him a trial date.
During the trial’s final statements, the defence counsel, Evans, said that Smith was dishonest and would say anything to protect himself. Additionally, Evans pointed out that the getaway automobile had Smith’s fingerprints but not Johnson’s. Furthermore, he asserted that there was “no proof that Justin Johnson got a penny,” despite Smith’s testimony indicating that he had gotten $800 before his arrest and an additional $50,000 from his defence counsel.
Hagerman responded by stating that video and cellphone evidence supported Smith’s claim. They comprised a conversation between Big Jook and Johnson just after the murder and a call between Smith and Johnson just before the murder.
While on the run from the law, Jermarcus Johnson admitted to aiding his half-brother Smith in communicating by telephone. In June 2023, he pleaded guilty to three charges of being an accessory after the homicide. His sentencing has not taken place.
Smith said that Hernandez Govan was Big Jook’s intermediary; Govan has since pleaded not guilty to the charge of murder conspiracy. We have scheduled Govan’s trial for March 10.
In the beginning of his career, Young Dolph dropped a slew of mixtapes. His first studio album, “King of Memphis,” from 2016, is one of his most notable works. He has worked with several renowned rappers on multiple albums and mixtapes, including Key Glock, Megan Thee Stallion, T.I., Gucci Mane, 2 Chainz, and many more.
With 2020’s “Rich Slave” reaching No. 4, Young Dolph had three albums that reached the top ten on the Billboard 200.
