Young Dolph shooting suspect testifies, admits to shooting rapper, cleaning up vehicle

Cornelius Smith, one of the people charged in relation to the 2021 killing of Young Dolph , testified in court Monday afternoon, saying he participated in the hit on the rapper because of the promised payout .

Smith said he and Justin Johnson, whose trial started Monday , were set to receive $40,000 each, with Hernandez Govan, the man prosecutors say was the mastermind behind the killing, receiving $20,000. Shelby County Deputy District Attorney Paul Hagerman had Smith talk in detail about his problems with drugs. At the time, Smith was taking Oxycontin and ecstasy.

Smith said the year had been rough for him as his 9-year-old child had died months before. Smith was made aware of multiple hits out on artists affiliated with Young Dolph's PRE record label after speaking with Govan and Big Jook, Yo Gotti's brother who was shot and killed in January.

Smith said he and Johnson traveled together, with Johnson picking him up. Smith said the initial plan was to shoot Thornton at a “turkey drive” but spotted the camoflagued-wrapped Corvette Thornton was known to drive.

When they saw Thornton’s wrapped car, they started following him and saw him pull into the parking lot of the cookie shop where he was killed.

Smith was the first to exit the car when they pulled into the parking lot of Makeda's. Smith said Monday he “couldn’t tell you how many times I shot (Thornton).”

Smith said he was shot by Marcus Thornton, the brother of Young Dolph, who was present at the cookie shop, and needed to have a "wound kit" to clean up his injuries. Smith said he was shot in the arm and leg, with Johnson being grazed by a bullet on his back.

Smith also said the duo ditched the white Mercedes in a driveway at a home in Orange Mound directly after the shooting. When they ditched the car, they then drove a different vehicle to an apartment in South Memphis, where they changed their clothes and cleaned their wounds.

Smith detailed the hours of getting “cleaned up” in court, including how he went back to the ditched white Mercedes to clean it up.

Smith was later asked about his payment and said, in total, he recieved $800 before he was arrested.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Young Dolph shooting suspect testifies, admits to shooting rapper, cleaning up vehicle