Man Receives Probation for Assisting in Young Dolph Shooters’ Case Following Memphis Rapper’s Shooting
MEMPHIS, Tenn.—A Tennessee man who assisted two hired killers after they murdered rapper Young Dolph at a Memphis bakery has been sentenced to six years’ probation, avoiding prison time, as ruled by a judge on Friday.
Jermarcus Johnson, 27, admitted guilt in June 2023 to three charges of being an accessory after the shooting. Johnson aided Cornelius Smith Jr. and Justin Johnson, his half-brother, in communicating via cellphone while they were evading authorities after the daytime attack.
Justin Johnson was found guilty on Sept. 26 of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and being a felon with a gun. He received a life sentence plus 35 years. Smith faces charges of first-degree murder and testified at Justin Johnson’s trial, confessing to fatally shooting Young Dolph.
Shelby County Judge Jennifer Mitchell ordered Jermarcus Johnson to a six-year diversion program involving job training, drug testing, prohibition from gun possession, and 20 hours of annual community service. His record may be expunged upon successful completion of the program.
After the sentencing, prosecutor Paul Hagerman told reporters that Jermarcus Johnson had no role in Young Dolph’s actual killing. “He was manipulated by his brother,” Hagerman explained. “He is not a criminal.”
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Young Dolph, whose real name was Adolph Thornton Jr., was shot and killed in November 2021 at a bakery near his childhood home. A philanthropist in Memphis, the 36-year-old rapper and music label owner was distributing Thanksgiving turkeys to families in the city when a visit to his beloved cookie shop turned tragic.
During the trial, Smith revealed that rapper Yo Gotti’s brother, Anthony “Big Jook” Mims, had offered a $100,000 reward for Young Dolph and the artists at Paper Route Empire, Young Dolph’s record label. Smith and Justin Johnson were searching for a target and ended up ambushing Young Dolph at the cookie shop in daylight, resulting in his death from 22 gunshot wounds.
Prosecutor Hagerman informed jurors that Cocaine Muzik Group (now Collective Music Group) sought to recruit Young Dolph, but he declined. Subsequently, Young Dolph wrote diss tracks targeting the label, its artists, and Big Jook. Earlier that year, Big Jook was fatally shot outside a restaurant.
At his guilty plea hearing, Jermarcus Johnson admitted to taking a cellphone and a car from Justin Johnson. He also identified a photo showing Justin Johnson in attire matching one of the shooters. Jermarcus Johnson testified in his half-brother’s trial as well. His attorney, Josh Corman, stated on Friday that Jermarcus Johnson was in an adverse predicament.
“We all believe it’s a fair resolution,” Corman expressed.
Another individual, Hernandez Govan, accused by Smith of facilitating the killing, has pleaded not guilty. Govan’s trial is scheduled for March 10.
Following the shooting, Makeda’s Homemade Cookies became a tribute site for Young Dolph, with fans gathering in the parking lot for prayers and leaving messages of support and love on the boarded-up windows. The bakery shut down temporarily but later reopened.
Young Dolph was commemorated by the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies during a game. Murals of the rapper were painted across the city, and a street in the neighborhood was named after him.
Starting with various mixtapes, Young Dolph’s musical career included collaborations with artists such as Key Glock, Megan Thee Stallion, and Gucci Mane. His album “Rich Slave” reached No. 4 on the Billboard 200 chart in 2020.
By Adrian Sainz
