MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The fourth suspect arrested in the murder of Memphis rapper Young Dolph, who was killed a year ago at a cookie shop in South Memphis, was in court Tuesday morning.
Jermarcus Johnson, 25, turned himself in to police Friday, Nov. 18. His bond was set at $300,000.
In court Tuesday, ABC24 learned Johnson is in the process of hiring an attorney. He is due back in court for arraignment Dec. 16, 2022.
MPD said Johnson was wanted on a charge of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. Prosecutor Paul Hagerman said the indictment alleges that Jermarcus Johnson helped Justin Johnson escape after the murder and arranged payments to other defendants. Hagerman also said they do not know if Jermarcus and Justin are related. Hagerman said a man who was arrested with Jermacrus Johnson involved another agency - not MPD or the Shelby County D.A.'s office - and that arrest involved a different case.
Thursday marked one year since the murder. Memphis Police previously arrested three suspects in connection with the Young Dolph murder.
Hernandez Govan, 43, was indicted Nov. 10, 2022. He pleaded not guilty in court Thursday, Nov. 17, to charges of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, first-degree murder, and criminal attempted first-degree murder. Govan is due back in court Dec. 16, 2022, and remains in the Shelby County Jail without bond.
The first two suspects arrested - Justin Johnson, 24, and Cornelius Smith, 32, - are due back in court on January 20, 2023. Johnson and Smith were indicted in January 2022 on charges of first-degree murder, criminal attempted first-degree murder, unlawful carrying and possession of a firearm, employment of a firearm with intent to commit a felony, and theft of property.
Justin Johnson also faces additional charges from a non-related case. He’s accused of failing to register as a sex offender, violating the Sex Offender Registry Act.
Young Dolph, whose real name was Adolph Thornton Jr., was fatally shot at Makeda's Cookies on Airways Boulevard a year ago on Nov. 17, 2021. Police have said two men got out of a stolen Mercedes-Benz and fired shots into Makeda’s Homemade Cookies, where Young Dolph was making a purchase. Police released photos taken from surveillance video that captured the shooting, which they said led to the arrests.