MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The trial for two men charged in the murder of Memphis rapper Young Dolph is now set for Sept. 23, 2024, according to the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office.
Justin Johnson and Cornelius Smith Jr. were originally set to head to trial June 3, 2024, but in May, the D.A.’s office said the defense counsel asked for more time for everyone’s experts to review information, and prosecutors agreed.
The trial was reset previously from March 11 to June 3, 2024. Judge Jennifer J. Mitchell took over the case after the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals ordered Judge Lee Coffee to recuse himself from the Young Dolph case.
This all comes after a Shelby County Judge has granted a motion for a change of venue for the trial in February. That means an outside jury will be brought in to Shelby County to hear the case, which received heavy media attention here.
Prosecutor Paul Hagerman said the change of venue would not pose an obstacle for prosecutors. The court will decide the county from which the jurors will come at a later date, he said.
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. Both currently remain in the Shelby County Jail without bail in the Dolph murder.
The man accused of ordering the hit against Young Dolph, Hernandez Govan, is charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. He is currently out of jail on $90,000 bond and was ordered to remain on house arrest. His trial has not been set.
Another suspect, Jermarcus Johnson, pleaded guilty to three counts of accessory after the fact in October, in exchange for information into other suspects in the case. He faces six to 12 years in jail. Jermarcus Johnson bonded out of jail following the plea deal and a sentencing date has been reset several times. He will not likely be sentenced until after the Johnson and Smith trial.
Young Dolph, whose real name was Adolph Thornton Jr., was fatally shot at Makeda's Cookies on Airways Boulevard on Nov. 17, 2021. Police said at the time 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.
Under Tennessee law, if the suspects are found guilty of first-degree murder at trial, they could face life in prison without the possibility of parole.
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.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.