He killed Young Dolph at a Memphis cookie shop, gets life term

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As a movie critic who has spent years dissecting the intricate plots and character arcs of countless films, I must say that this real-life drama unfolding in Memphis is as gripping and suspenseful as any thriller I’ve seen on the silver screen. The tale of Young Dolph‘s tragic murder and the subsequent legal proceedings against his killers is a chilling reminder of the harsh reality that exists beyond the confines of our cinematic escapades.

A key suspect in the assassination of rap artist Young Dolph received a lifetime imprisonment sentence on Thursday, following a four-day court hearing held in Memphis, Tennessee.

Following a discussion lasting four hours, Justin Johnson was officially declared guilty of first-degree murder, planning to carry out first-degree murder, and illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The judge handed down a sentence of life imprisonment as per the recommendation of the Shelby County district attorney. Johnson’s sentencing for the remaining two charges is scheduled for November.

In the chilly month of November 2021, rapper Adolph Thornton Jr., professionally known as Young Dolph, was tragically gunned down at Makeda’s Homemade Butter Cookies, a well-known cookie store on Airways Boulevard in Memphis.

In the court proceedings, Cornelius Smith, identified as a partner in crime with Johnson, stated that they were hired for the purpose of killing Thornton. Each of them was promised $40,000 by the district attorney, it was revealed. The individual who arranged the hit, as per court documents, was Anthony Mims, also known as Big Jook, who is the brother of Mario Mims, a well-known Memphis rapper and founder of Collective Music Group, named Yo Gotti.

According to Fox 13, it was reported that Anthony Mims was fatally shot outside Perignons Restaurant and Event Center in January.

For approximately ten years, Thornton and Mario Mims exchanged diss tracks following an incident where Thornton claimed he declined a record deal with the same label. After a targeted attack in 2017 that involved around 100 gunshots fired into a bulletproof car he was traveling in, as reported by USA Today, Thornton wrote the song “100 Shots.” Blac Youngsta, an associate of Gotti, surrendered to authorities in 2019 over allegations of his involvement in the shooting; however, charges against him were eventually dropped.

Defense attorneys argued Johnson’s DNA was never found in the white Mercedes that was caught on video speeding away from the murder scene, nor were the guns used in the killing recovered. But video shown at the trial by prosecutors showed Johnson at his apartment the night of the murder wearing the same clothes as seen on a suspect at the murder scene. They also had phone records showing he’d been in contact with Big Jook as well as Hernandez Govan, who allegedly orchestrated the killing, prior to and after the shooting. Govan is also a defendant in the case.

Mia Jaye expressed her relief and renewed trust in the legal system following today’s verdict, as she spoke out on Instagram. She added, “Though my belief has been challenged, the senseless killing of Adolph has made me even more determined to seek justice – not just for him, but for every Black man. Today marks the start of our mission to secure complete justice for Adolph, and we will persevere in supporting this process as it unfolds.

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2024-09-27 13:31