The first day of trial for the man accused of organizing the murder of a Memphis rapper four years ago mostly consisted of testimony from a key witness in Young Dolph’s death: one of the self-confessed shooters.

Cornelius Smith took the stand most of the day, following brief testimony from the victim’s sister, Erica Thornton. She gave a short testimony about learning of the death of her brother, whose real name was Adolph Thorton Jr. She said the last time she spoke to her brother was Nov. 16, 2021, the day before he was fatally shot.

Before a lunch break around 1 p.m. Monday, Smith gave a broader picture of his relationship to Hernandez Govan, the man on trial, than he offered last year during the trial for Justin Johnson, who was convicted of first-degree murder for shooting Thornton. Smith also gave new details of the day of Thornton’s murder, including that Govan allegedly chastised the pair for leaving behind evidence when they went to ditch their getaway car.

During the testimony, Govan sat stone-faced, staring at Smith as he implicated him in Thornton’s murder. Jurors watched intently as Smith spoke while others jotted down notes.

The two men who shot Memphis rapper Young Dolph in 2021 allegedly tried to kill another artist signed to the star’s label, one of the men testified Monday, Aug. 18.

Cornelius Smith, one of the men accused of shooting Young Dolph, said in court Monday that he tried to kill another rapper on the Paper Route Empire (PRE) label before Nov. 17, 2021, the day Young Dolph was fatally shot.

Smith testified as a witness for the prosecution on the first day of Hernandez Govan’s trial. Govan is accused of soliciting the murder of Young Dolph, whose real name was Adolph Thornton Jr.

Govan, who had been selling drugs to Smith, informed him of an opportunity to “make some money” through “bounties” that had been placed on Thornton’s head as well as other members of PRE.

Young Dolph’s death four years ago is a story about choices, Shelby County Assistant District Attorney Irris Williams said in her opening statement Monday, Aug. 18, as the trial for the man accused of organizing the Memphis rapper’s killing got underway.

It’s a story about the choices Hernandez Govan, 45, made both leading up to and after Adolph Thornton Jr. was fatally shot on Nov. 17, 2021, Williams told jurors Monday.

“Our choices can mean life and death,” she said. 

Man accused of masterminding Young Dolph slaying is set for trial

Govan, who faces life in prison on charges of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, allegedly hired the two men who shot Young Dolph a collective 22 times, promising $100,000 for them to split in exchange for a $10,000 cut from both.

The man accused of soliciting the murder of a prominent Memphis rapper four years ago will face a jury starting Monday, Aug. 18.

Hernandez Govan, 45, allegedly ordered the hit on Young Dolph, whose real name was Adolph Thornton Jr., in 2021. Govan faces up to life in prison on charges of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder.

What we now know about Young Dolph’s death

Thornton, the founder of record label Paper Route Empire, died Nov. 17, 2021 after being shot 22 times at Makeda’s Homemade Cookies in South Memphis. He was 36.

Last year, during the trial for Justin Johnson, the man convicted of shooting Thornton that day, Shelby County Deputy District Attorney Paul Hagerman outlined what allegedly led to his death. 

After three years of questions, speculation and internet sleuthing into the death of Young Dolph, evidence offered in court suggests the Memphis rapper was the victim of a contract killing connected to a rival record label. 

Adolph Thornton Jr., also known as Young Dolph, was shot and killed in 2021 at Makeda’s Cookies on Airways Boulevard.

Justin Johnson, one of two men accused in Thornton’s slaying, was found guilty of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and being a convicted felon in possession of a handgun Thursday, Sept. 26.

He was sentenced to life in prison. Johnson’s lawyer, Luke Evans, plans to appeal. 

The trial for one of the men accused of fatally shooting Adolph Thornton Jr., better known as Memphis rapper Young Dolph, in 2021 began Monday. Justin Johnson, who was originally set to go to trial with two other codefendants, emerged as the sole defendant Monday morning. Johnson’s multiple charges include first-degree murder.

Check back here throughout the day for updates from the courtroom. And catch up on all of The Daily Memphian’s trial coverage here.

4:35 p.m.: Luke Evans, Justin Johnson’s attorney, told reporters it was shocking the prosecution didn’t call Hernandez Govan, who’s also charged in the killing, to testify during the trial.

Evans said he plans to appeal Johnson’s conviction.