MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A judge on Monday adjusted the trial date for a man accused of killing rapper Young Dolph in a daytime shooting at a cookie store in his hometown of Memphis, Tennessee.
Shelby County Judge Jennifer J. Mitchell set a trial date of September 23 for 26-year-old Justin Johnson. He has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of Young Dolph, who was buying cookies when he was shot in November 2021. at a bakery near his parental home.
Johnson’s trial was scheduled to begin Monday. However, prosecutors and Johnson’s attorney filed a joint motion on May 22 asking the judge to delay the trial so they could present expert witnesses to discuss cell phone location data.
Mitchell ruled in February that the jury will be from outside Memphis due to the intense media coverage of the 36-year-old rapper’s murder, which shocked Memphis and the entertainment world.
Authorities said two men got out of a stolen Mercedes-Benz and fired shots at Makeda’s Homemade Cookies before fleeing. As they searched for the suspects, police released photos taken from surveillance video that captured the shooting.
Cornelis Smith Jr. has also pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder charges in the shooting. A trial date for Smith has not yet been set.
Young Dolph, whose real name is Adolph Thornton Jr. was a rapper, producer and owner of an independent music label. He was shot while visiting his hometown to visit a sick relative and distribute Thanksgiving turkeys.
Known for his depictions of tough street life and his independent approach to the music business, Young Dolph was admired for charitable works in Memphis. Along with the Thanksgiving turkey giveaways, he donated thousands of dollars to high schools and paid rent and covered funeral costs for people in the Castalia Heights neighborhood where he grew up. After his death, a neighborhood street was named after Young Dolph.
Two other men have also been charged in the murder.
Hernandez Govan has pleaded not guilty to organizing the murder. No trial date has been set for him yet. Jermarcus Johnson pleaded guilty in June 2023 to three times he served as an accomplice after the murder by helping Smith and Justin Johnson, his half-brother.
Jermarcus Johnson acknowledged helping the two shooting suspects communicate by cellphone while fleeing authorities, and helping one of them communicate with his probation officer. Jermarcus Johnson likely won’t be convicted until after a trial in the case.