Prosecutors Could Seek Death Penalty for Suspects in Young Dolph’s Murder Case

Prosecutors could seek the death penalty against the two men accused of killing Young Dolph at a Memphis bakery.

Justin Johnson and Cornelius Smith went before a judge Wednesday morning for the first time on the murder charge.

The pair were initially supposed to appear in court on Tuesday, but the arraignment was rescheduled for undisclosed reasons.

Both suspects appeared in court on Wednesday without legal representation and requested that the judge give them another week to hire attorneys.

32-year-old Smith and 23-year-old Johnson are facing several charges, including first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder (for shooting at Young Dolph’s brother who was with the rapper when he was killed), employment of a firearm during a dangerous felony, being a felon in possession of a firearm and theft over $10,000.

Both suspects are being held without bond. If convicted, the murder charge alone would allow the state of Tennessee to file a notice to seek the death penalty or face life in prison without the possibility of parole.