Rapper Young Dolph was fatally shot in Memphis, Tennessee, on November 17, 2021, in a killing that shocked the music world.
Young Dolph, whose real name was Adolph Thornton Jr., was 36 years old.
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The shooting happened at Makeda’s Homemade Butter Cookies in South Memphis while Dolph was visiting his hometown.
Surveillance footage from the incident showed two men arriving in a white Mercedes-Benz before opening fire at the rapper.
The case later resulted in several arrests and a lengthy series of court proceedings.
Justin Johnson was convicted of first-degree murder in September 2024 and sentenced to life in prison. He was also convicted on additional charges connected to the killing. His conviction was later upheld on appeal.
Another defendant, Hernandez Govan, was accused by prosecutors of helping organize the killing. However, a Memphis jury found Govan not guilty of the murder and conspiracy charges in August 2025.
The final defendant in the case, Cornelius Smith Jr., was originally charged with first-degree murder.
Smith had previously testified against Johnson and acknowledged his involvement in the shooting.
On May 15, 2026, Smith pleaded guilty to second-degree murder as part of a plea agreement. He was sentenced to 20 years in the Tennessee Department of Correction, with no possibility of early release or parole according to the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office.
The plea resolved the final outstanding criminal case stemming from Young Dolph’s killing.
The rapper’s death occurred while he was in Memphis for charitable activities, including a Thanksgiving turkey giveaway.
Young Dolph was known not only for his music but also for his independent record label and philanthropic work in Memphis.
Although the shooting happened nearly five years ago, videos and news footage from the case continue to circulate across social media.
It is important to remember that many viral posts about the case are reposts of a 2021 incident rather than a new shooting.
The criminal proceedings have now reached their latest conclusion, with one defendant serving a life sentence, another acquitted, and the final defendant sentenced to 20 years after pleading guilty.
The case remains one of the most widely followed rapper murder cases in Memphis in recent years.
Sources: Shelby County District Attorney’s Office, Associated Press.
