Man sentenced to life in prison for murder of Young Dolph

Justin Johnson has been found guilty of the first-degree murder of Young Dolph in 2021 and sentenced to life in prison.

The Memphis rapper, real name Adolph Thornton Jr., was shot 22 times and killed in his hometown on November 17, 2021. Eyewitnesses at the time asserted that the 36-year-old was shot through the window of a bakery in the city.

Johnson was also found guilty on charges of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm (via FOX13). The four-day trial concluded on Thursday (September 26), with the jury deliberating for around four hours.

Johnson’s sentence from Judge Jennifer Mitchell was for the first-degree murder charge, with sentencing on other charges to follow in November. Johnson never took to the defence stand.

“Every murder’s a tragedy, and we take them all seriously,” said Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy. “This one generated extra public interest because Young Dolph was a prominent and beloved member of the community. We will continue to fight hard to make sure that all of those responsible for his death are brought to justice.”

Cornelius Smith, another alleged gunman in the murder, took to the stand on Monday (September 23) after pleading guilty to murder charges. He testified that he and Johnson carried out the hit on the rapper after a $100,000 bounty was placed on his head by Yo Gotti’s brother Anthony “Big Jook” Mims, as well as Hernandez “Quett” Govan.

Smith claimed that he and Johnson both expected to collect $40,000 for the killing, but said he only ended up receiving $800, although Big Jook did end up paying $50,000 in lawyer fees later on. Big Jook himself was murdered while leaving a funeral in January this year.

During his appearance in court, Smith claimed he was trying to make money to help his family. “Man, I was trying to make it right for her,” he said, referring to his daughter. “I ain’t have no money, I’m trying to get some money that day. So I’m trying to make sure my baby girl have a beautiful birthday”.

In a statement given to Rolling Stone in January 2023, Dolph’s aunt, Rita Myers, said the rapper’s family were traumatised by his murder. “Our family has suffered a tremendous loss, because he was the glue that held our family together,” she said. “I’m still crying, day and night.”

A private funeral was held in November 2022, before a section of a street in the neighbourhood he grew up in was renamed in his honour the next month.

Paper Route Empire released Dolph’s first posthumous album, ‘Paper Route Frank’ in December 2022, featuring guest appearances from Gucci Mane, 2 Chainz and Key Glock.

Dolph was said to have been close to finishing the album – his ninth overall and follow-up to 2020’s ‘Rich Slave’ – just prior to his murder.

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