Man pleads guilty in shooting death of rapper Young Dolph at a Memphis
bakery
[May 16, 2026]
MEMPHIS, Tenn, (AP) — A Tennessee man pleaded guilty on Friday in
the shooting death of Young Dolph during a daytime ambush at a Memphis
bakery, marking an end to courtroom battles stemming from the rapper and
music label owner’s shocking killing in his hometown more than four
years ago.
Cornelius Smith Jr., 36, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in a
Memphis courtroom under an agreement with prosecutors that dropped other
charges against him, according to a press release from the district
attorney's office. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison as part of the
plea deal.
Smith and another man, Justin Johnson, were charged with first-degree
murder in the November 2021 killing of Young Dolph at his favorite
cookie shop, located near his childhood home in a working-class Memphis
neighborhood.
Smith was the main witness in the trial of Johnson, who was convicted of
first-degree murder in 2024 after Smith named him as the second shooter.
Johnson was sentenced in September 2024 to life in prison. Johnson was
later sentenced for two other convictions from the trial: conspiracy to
commit murder and possession of a gun as a felon.
Smith also testified at the trial of Hernandez Govan, who was acquitted
in August of charges that he organized the killing.
Young Dolph, whose legal name is Adolph Thornton Jr., was a rapper,
independent label owner and producer who grew up in Memphis and was
admired in the city for his charitable works. The 36-year-old was in his
hometown to hand out Thanksgiving turkeys to families when he was
killed.
The shooting stunned the entertainment world as another death of a rap
star killed in their prime, like Tupac Shakur, Notorious B.I.G. and
Nipsey Hussle.
Authorities said two men exited a white Mercedes-Benz and began shooting
at the rapper at the bakery. He died after being shot about 20 times,
according to a medical examiner’s report.
After the killing, the bakery, Makeda’s Homemade Cookies, turned into a
memorial to Young Dolph. He was also honored at a Memphis Grizzlies game
and the city named a street after him. Murals of the rapper have been
painted around the city.
Prosecutors have portrayed the killing as part of an effort by Anthony
“Big Jook” Mims to get revenge on Young Dolph for diss tracks aimed at
Big Jook and the record label he helped run for his brother, rapper Yo
Gotti. Smith has testified that Big Jook put out a $100,000 hit on Young
Dolph as well as smaller bounties on all the artists at Young Dolph’s
record label, Paper Route Empire.
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Young Dolph performs at The Parking Lot Concert in Atlanta on Aug.
23, 2020. (Photo by Paul R. Giunta/Invision/AP, File)
 At the trial of Justin Johnson, a
prosecutor told jurors that Cocaine Muzik Group (now known as
Collective Music Group), a rival record label founded by Yo Gotti,
wanted Young Dolph to work for them, but he turned them down.
Big Jook was shot and killed outside a restaurant in January 2024.
No arrests have been made in his death, and he was never charged in
Young Dolph’s killing.
Smith has testified that, “I didn’t know anything about Paper Route
having no hits,” before Govan told him about them. He said Govan
hired him to “do the hits” and was going to take $10,000 as his cut.
But the jury in Govan’s trial was not convinced that he organized
the killings.
After Young Dolph’s death, social media was filled with messages of
respect and love for the rapper, whose music discussed Memphis
street life and his crack-addicted parents, alongside hard-earned
lessons of strength and perseverance in the face of difficult
circumstances. His legacy as a fiercely independent artist and
businessman was cemented in the hip-hop universe.
Young Dolph began his career by releasing numerous mixtapes. His
studio albums include his 2016 debut, “King of Memphis.” He also
collaborated on other mixtapes and albums with fellow rappers Key
Glock, Megan Thee Stallion, T.I., Gucci Mane and 2 Chainz, among
others. Young Dolph had three albums reach the top 10 on the
Billboard 200, with 2020′s “Rich Slave” peaking at No. 4.
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