Young Dolph Murder Trial: Accused Killer Cornelius Smith Testifies That He and Justin Johnson FaceTimed Big Jook to Confirm Hit Was Carried Out

Cornelius Smith, one of the men charged in the murder of Memphis rapper Young Dolph, took the stand in court Monday, testifying that he was offered $100,000 to carry out the killing.

Smith, who faces charges alongside Justin Johnson and Hernandez Govan, admitted to his involvement, detailing how the $100,000 hit was allegedly ordered by Anthony “Big Jook” Mims, the brother of rapper Yo Gotti.

Smith began his testimony by stating that the prosecution had made no promises in exchange for his cooperation and that he was fully aware he would be going to prison for his role in the murder. He recounted how, after the death of his 9-year-old son in 2020, he turned to drugs, which led him to further criminal activity.

Smith testified that Govan told him about the hit on Young Dolph, which was orchestrated by Big Jook. According to Smith, he and Johnson agreed to carry out the murder, with the plan to split the money—$40,000 each for Smith and Johnson, with $10,000 going to Govan. They had been planning for weeks and knew Dolph was in Memphis for a Thanksgiving turkey drive, an annual event hosted by his record label, Paper Route Empire.

On the day of the shooting, Johnson picked Smith up in a white Mercedes Benz with firearms in the backseat, including a Draco semi-automatic weapon and a handgun. The two spotted Dolph’s car and followed him to Makeda’s Homemade Butter Cookies. Smith described the moment: “We were like, ‘There goes Dolph right there,’” before deciding to act.

Smith testified that they circled the block before pulling up behind Makeda’s, and then, “I saw him standing by the window and just got out of the car and started shooting.” Surveillance footage shown in court confirmed the attack, and Smith identified both himself and Johnson as the gunmen in the video. “I wasn’t feeling anything at the time,” he admitted, explaining he was focused on getting the money.

Following the shooting, Young Dolph’s brother fired at the attackers, hitting Smith in the shoulder, arm, and leg. Despite the injuries, Smith and Johnson managed to flee, switching cars and later contacting Big Jook to confirm the job had been completed. According to Smith, they FaceTimed Big Jook, using “jailhouse sign language” to spell out D-O-L-P-H, letting him know the hit had been carried out.

Big Jook, whose involvement has become a focus in the case, was killed earlier this year in Memphis.

Smith also testified that Govan urged them to get rid of the white Mercedes used in the crime, which they left on Bradley Street near Govan’s home in Orange Mound. Despite the high-stakes operation, Smith revealed he was only paid $800 after the murder, far less than the promised $40,000.