Nearly five years after the fatal shooting of Young Dolph, one of the men who admitted to pulling the trigger is preparing to formally plead guilty, marking another major development in the long-running Memphis murder case.
Cornelius Smith, 36, confirmed this week that he intends to accept a plea deal in connection with the Nov. 17, 2021 killing of the rapper, born Adolph Robert Thornton Jr. Smith previously testified that he and co-defendant Justin Johnson — an aspiring rapper who performed under the name Straight Drop — were hired gunmen in the daytime ambush outside Makeda’s Homemade Butter Cookies in South Memphis.
Johnson was convicted in 2024 on charges including first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. He received a sentence of life in prison without parole plus 35 additional years.
Smith’s plea hearing, initially expected this month, has been pushed to March 30 as attorneys finalize the terms of the agreement. Prosecutors have indicated the deal is contingent on Smith’s continued cooperation. While specific sentencing details have not been publicly released, the agreement is expected to reduce his potential exposure compared to a life sentence if convicted at trial.
One of the most striking details to emerge from court proceedings has been the amount Smith and Johnson were paid. According to sworn testimony and court records, each man received $800 for carrying out the shooting — a revelation that has fueled widespread reaction online given the high-profile nature of the killing.
During Johnson’s trial, Smith testified that the murder was tied to a larger alleged $100,000 bounty. By the time the money was divided among multiple participants, however, the shooters’ share was a fraction of that amount. Prosecutors said the pair used stolen vehicles and tracked Dolph’s whereabouts through social media before opening fire in broad daylight. The 36-year-old rapper was struck multiple times and pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities previously alleged that Hernandez Govan acted as a go-between, connecting the shooters to Anthony “Big Jook” Mims, the late brother of Yo Gotti, amid long-simmering tensions within the Memphis rap scene. Govan was acquitted in August 2025 after a brief jury deliberation and has maintained his innocence. No charges have been filed against Yo Gotti, who has denied any involvement.
Young Dolph was widely celebrated as a fiercely independent artist who built his Paper Route Empire label outside of the traditional major-label system. Over the course of his career, he became known not only for his gritty Memphis sound but also for his vocal stance on ownership and autonomy in the music industry.
