MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A Tennessee man who helped two hitmen after they were shot rapper Young Dolph at a Memphis bakery will not serve prison time but will be on probation for six years, a judge ruled Friday.
Jermarcus Johnson, 27, pleaded guilty in June 2023 to three counts of serving as an accessory after the shooting. Johnson helped Cornelius Smith Jr. and Justin Johnson, his half-brother, to communicate on their cell phones while fleeing authorities after the daytime ambush.
Justin Johnson was convicted September 26 of first-degree murderconspiracy to commit murder and being a felon in possession of a firearm. That was him sentenced to life in prison plus 35 years. Smith has been charged with first-degree murder and he testified at Justin Johnson’s trial, saying they fatally shot Young Dolph.
Shelby County Judge Jennifer Mitchell sentenced Jermarcus Johnson to a six-year diversion program, during which he will undergo vocational training, submit to drug testing, not possess a weapon and perform 20 hours of community service per year. His record could be cleared if he successfully completes the program.
Speaking to reporters after the sentencing, prosecutor Paul Hagerman noted that Jermarcus Johnson played no role in the actual murder of Young Dolph.
“He was used by his brother,” Hagerman said. “He’s not a criminal.”
Young Dolph, whose real name is Adolph Thornton Jr. was fatally shot in November 2021 in a bakery near his childhood home. The 36-year-old rapper and independent music label owner, known for his charity works in Memphis, was in town to distribute Thanksgiving turkeys to families when his visit to his favorite cookie shop turned into an event that shocked the entertainment world.
During the process, Smith testified that rapper Yo Gotti’s brother, Anthony “Big Jook” Mims, had released a $100,000 hit on Young Dolph, as well as bounties for all artists on Young Dolph’s record label, Paper Route Empire. said Smith him and Justin Johnson were “looking for someone” and “didn’t know who we were going to catch.”
They knew Young Dolph and some of his performers were participating in the turkey giveaway, so they headed that way when they saw Young Dolph’s car. They followed him to the cookie shop and opened fire in broad daylightsaid Smith. Young Dolph was hit 22 times and died on the spot.
Hagerman, the prosecutor, said jury members that Cocaine Muzik Group (now known as Collective Music Group), a rival recordfounded by Yo Gotti, wanted Young Dolph to work for them, but he turned them down. Young Dolph later wrote diss tracks aimed at the label, the artists and the ‘number two person’, Big Jook. Big Jook was shot dead outside a restaurant earlier this year.
During his guilty plea hearing, Jermarcus Johnson acknowledged taking a cell phone and a car belonging to Justin Johnson. Jermarcus Johnson also identified a photo of Justin Johnson wearing the same clothing as one of the two shooters.
Jermarcus Johnson too testified at the trial against his half-brother. His attorney, Josh Corman, said Friday that Jermarcus Johnson was “put in a bad situation.”
“We all think this is a fair solution,” Corman said.
Another man, Hernandez Govan, who Smith identified as an intermediary with Big Jook, has pleaded not guilty to organizing the killing. Govan’s trial is scheduled for March 10.
Immediately after the shooting, Makeda’s Homemade Cookies turned into a makeshift memorial for Young Dolph, with fans praying in the parking lot and writing messages of condolence and love on plywood covering the broken windows. The bakery was closed for months, but is now open again.
He was also honored by the Memphis Grizzlies of the NBA during a game. Murals of the rapper were painted throughout the city. A neighborhood street was named after him.
The young Dolph started 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, TI, Gucci Mane, 2 Chainz and others.
Young Dolph had three albums reach the top 10 of the Billboard 200, with 2020’s ‘Rich Slave’ peaking at No. 4.