Justin Johnson has been convicted of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, and being a felon in possession of a firearm in the Young Dolph murder trial.
He was sentenced to life in prison.
The verdict comes nearly three years after the Memphis rapper, born Adolph Thornton Jr., was tragically gunned down at Makeda’s Cookies on November 17, 2021.
On the opening day of the trial, co-defendant Cornelius Smith, one of the main suspects, admitted to shooting Young Dolph. Smith’s testimony was key for the prosecution, as he claimed both he and Johnson were hired for the hit by Hernandez Govan, the alleged mastermind behind the killing, and Yo Gotti’s late brother, Big Jook. Despite Smith’s confession, in February 2022, both he and Johnson pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, as did Govan, who denied arranging the murder.
Prosecutors argued that the murder was linked to a feud between Young Dolph’s Paper Route Empire (PRE) label and Yo Gotti’s Collective Music Group (CMG). Throughout the trial, they relied on video footage, phone records, and witness testimony to connect Johnson to the fatal shooting.
The defense, led by attorney Luke Evans, questioned the credibility of Smith’s testimony and emphasized inconsistencies in the evidence. Evans argued that Smith had a motive to lie, as he could receive a lighter sentence for cooperating with the state.
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