The 3 men charged with murdering Young Dolph are now on trial, and it kicked off with a bombshell allegation

FoxMemphis10 – Court resumed with the testimony of Cornelius Smith, one of the men prosecutors claimed killed Memphis rapper Young Dolph.

Smith’s testimony began by him acknowledging that the prosecution made him no promises, that he knew he was not going to go home free and that he knew he was going to prison for his role in Young Dolph’s death. 

One of the men accused of murdering Memphis rapper Young Dolph began trial on Monday, September 23.

Smith said he began using drugs again after his 9-year-old son died in 2020. Smith admitted to lying to police after he was originally arrested on unrelated charges in Mississippi. He said he decided to “tell the truth” because he realized he had been caught and that he “had a conscious.” 

Prosecutor Paul Hagerman showed video of two men shooting into the window of Makeda’s Homemade Butter Cookies. Smith said, “That was the day we had shot Young Dolph.”

When asked who the “we” was, Smith identified Justin Johnson as the second gunman in the video. Smith said that both he and Johnson knew Hernandez Govan and that Govan was attempting to get Johnson a deal with CMG, the record label of Yo Gotti and Big Jook. Smith said that he used to buy drugs from Govan. 

Smith knew Johnson for “a few months” before the shooting, he testified.

According to Smith, he and Johnson knew that Big Jook had a “hit on Dolph’s head.” Smith said that Govan told them about that $100,000 hit.

Both Smith and Johnson agreed to do the hit, he testified. Smith said that both he and Johnson were going to give Govan $10,000 after the hit and that both gunmen would take $40,000.

The two had planned the process for weeks, according to Smith. 

On the day of the shooting, Smith said that Johnson picked him up from his father’s house in Orange Mound. Smith said that both he and Johnson knew that Young Dolph was in Memphis to be a part of a turkey drive.

His record label, Paper Route Empire, held these Thanksgiving food drives annually.

Smith said that when Johnson picked him up on the day of the shooting Johnson was driving a white Mercedes Benz. In the backseat, Smith said, was a Draco, a semi-automatic weapon, and a handgun. 

Smith said that he and Johnson saw Young Dolph’s custom car while the two were driving. “We were like, ‘There goes Dolph right there,” Smith said.

According to Smith, the two began following Dolph and saw him pull into Makeda’s Homemade Butter Cookies.

Smith said that the two “made the block”, “pulled up the backway,” and that he “jumped out and started shooting.” Smith had the semi-automatic weapon at the time of the shooting, he said. 

Hagerman showed video of gunmen shooting into Makeda’s. Smith identified himself and Johnson as the people in the video. “I wasn’t feeling nothing at the time,” Smith said. “I was just trying to get some money…I saw him standing by the window. I just got out of the car and started shooting.” 

After the shooting, Young Dolph’s brother can be seen on video running out of Makeda’s. Prosecutors said that Young Dolph’s brother shot at the two, hitting Smith.

Smith said that they did not shoot back. Smith was shot in his shoulder, his arm and his leg.