What's happened
Cornelius Smith Jr. has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in Young Dolph's 2021 killing in Memphis. He has received a 20-year prison sentence as part of a plea deal, while Justin Johnson remains sentenced to life for first-degree murder. The case centers on Makeda’s Homemade Cookies in Memphis and connections to Paper Route Empire and rival labels.
What's behind the headline?
Key takeaways
- This sequence shows how plea deals can shift courtroom dynamics, with Smith becoming the primary witness in Johnson’s trial.
- The case underscores the influence of local rivalries and alleged orchestrations behind high-profile music-row violence.
- The Memphis community and local officials have faced ongoing concerns about safety in the wake of the incident.
What this means
- Expect continued legal repercussions for figures tied to Paper Route Empire and associated groups.
- The case may influence how prosecutors approach similar murders tied to hip-hop networks in Tennessee.
- Community acceptance of the verdicts could affect recovery efforts around Makeda’s and the surrounding neighborhood.
How we got here
The 2021 killing of rapper Young Dolph occurred outside Makeda’s Homemade Cookies in Memphis. Smith testified against co-defendant Johnson, who was convicted of first-degree murder in 2024. Prosecutors have tied the shooting to disputes between Paper Route Empire and rival labels, with the broader Memphis hip-hop scene playing a role in the investigation.
Our analysis
AP News reports that Cornelius Smith Jr. pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and received 20 years as part of a plea deal; Justin Johnson received life in prison for first-degree murder in 2024. The Independent covers the same plea and sentencing details, highlighting the broader fallout in Memphis. NY Post provides additional context on the chain of events and the involved parties, including the role of Anthony “Big Jook” Mims in earlier this saga.
Go deeper
- What did the plea deal change for other charges?
- How are local officials responding to the verdicts?
- What is the status of Makeda’s Homemade Cookies as a community landmark now?
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Cornelius Smith Jr. - American actor
Cornelius Smith Jr. (born March 18, 1982) is an American actor best known for his portrayal of Marcus Walker on the ABC drama series Scandal from 2015 to 2018, and Frankie Hubbard on the ABC soap opera All My Children from December 2007 until September...
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Young Dolph - American rapper (1985–2021)
Adolph Robert Thornton Jr. (July 27, 1985 – November 17, 2021), better known by his stage name Young Dolph, was an American rapper and record executive from Memphis, Tennessee. He first garnered mainstream attention for his guest appearance on O.T. Gena