Chris Samuel
The trial has been set for the tragic murder of Young Dolph. Two suspects, Cornelius Smith and Justin Johnson, are now scheduled to stand trial for the November 2021 murder. During a hearing on July 14, Shelby County Judge Lee Coffee set the trial date for the two men, who have pleaded not guilty to the charges, including first-degree murder.
Justice For Young Dolph In Sight
The murder of Young Dolph sent shockwaves through the music community, and now, after a little over a month since the fatal shooting of another suspect, the quest for justice is underway.
Trial dates have been set for Cornelius Smith and Justin Johnson, the two suspects charged with the murder of the beloved Memphis rapper. The trial is scheduled for March 11, 2024, as Shelby County Judge Lee Coffee confirmed during a recent hearing.
Both Smith and Johnson have pleaded not guilty to the charges, which include first-degree murder in connection with the fatal shooting of the late rapper. The incident occurred on November 17, 2021, when the “Bagg” rapper was ambushed at a local bakery shop near his childhood home in Memphis.
Suspects Face Charges Amid Pleading “Not Guilty”
Young Dolph was reportedly shot down by two men who arrived in a stolen Mercedes-Benz. In addition to Smith and Johnson, two other individuals are facing charges related to the murder. Jemarcus Johnson, Justin’s half-brother, and Hernandez Govan are also connected to the case.
Jemarcus has already pleaded guilty to three counts of accessory after the fact, indicating some level of involvement in the aftermath of the crime. Meanwhile, Govan has pleaded not guilty to arranging the murder. The investigation recently took a dramatic turn when fellow suspect Joshua Taylor was fatally shot in Memphis.
Taylor had been identified as a person of interest in the murder of Young Dolph, but his untimely death has left questions lingering about his potential role in the crime.
As the trial date approaches, the motive behind the murder has yet to be fully disclosed, leaving fans and the music community anxiously awaiting answers and closure. With the trial date now set, the pursuit of justice for Young Dolph is in motion as the legal system seeks to uncover the truth behind this heart-wrenching crime and hold those responsible accountable.
Updated by Dorian Waller on June 18th, 2023
Suspected Killer Of Late Rapper Young Dolph, Joshua Taylor, Fatally Shot In Memphis
Joshua Taylor, one of the suspects in the murder of Young Dolph, has been shot and killed in Memphis, Tennessee. Taylor and Devin Burns had been named as persons of interest in the Young Dolph killing, which took place at Makeda’s Homemade Cookies on Airways Boulevard in November 2021.
The news of Joshua Taylor’s shooting and subsequent death shocked the Memphis community, as he was one of the individuals believed to be involved in the tragic murder of Young Dolph. The incident occurred on June 14, 2023, on Spotswood near Buntyn in the Orange Mound neighborhood of Memphis.
Joshua Taylor and Devin Burns were previously named as persons of interest in the Young Dolph killing, although the exact reasons for their involvement in the case are yet to be revealed. The original arrests concerning the late Memphis rapper’s murder were made for Justin Johnson, Cornelius Smith, and Hernandez Galvan.
The late Young Dolph, a beloved Memphis rapper, was tragically shot and killed on November 17th, 2021, at Makeda’s Homemade Cookies, a well-known establishment he frequented during his visits to Memphis. His untimely death sent shockwaves through the music community and left fans mourning the loss of a talented artist.
In January 2023, Shundale Barnett, another suspect in the Young Dolph murder case, was released from jail after being transferred from a Texas facility. Barnett was granted bail while the remaining defendants in the trial continued to face serious charges, which could result in lengthy prison sentences.
As the legal proceedings continue, the Memphis community and fans of Young Dolph hope for justice and closure in the wake of this tragic loss.
Updated by Kynedei Hobbs on June 16th, 2023.
Suspect In Young Dolph Murder Released From Jail
Shundale Barnett, a suspect in Memphis rapper Young Dolph’s murder case, was released on bond from a Texas jail after being transferred to another. Other suspects in the trial are facing 60 years.
One of the suspects in the Young Dolph murder case has been released on bond.
Updated By: Chris Samuel (1/23/23 at 3:02 pm)
Shundale Barnett was released from custody on Jan. 21 from Clay County Jail after previously being bonded out from Tarrant County Jail on Dec. 24, 2022, according to Fox 13 in Memphis.
More Suspect Details
Barnett was initially arrested in Indiana with Justin Johnson, a suspected triggerman in the November 2021 murder of the late Memphis rapper. Cornelius Smith is also a suspected shooter, along with Johnson, where both were indicted on first-degree murder charges in January 2022.
Barnett is charged with after-the-fact accessory to first-degree murder, criminal attempt to commit first-degree murder, and theft of property. Barnett was allegedly in the car during the shooting but is not listed as a shooter.
In addition, another suspect, Hernandez Govan, was arrested and charged with ordering the hit on Young Dolph.
On Jan. 20, Johnson and Smith appeared in Shelby County court in Tennessee after a grand jury indicted them on a conspiracy charge. Both of their attorneys informed the judge that neither suspect would take a plea deal.
The trial for Johnson and Smith will start on March 24, and each could face up to 60 years if convicted.
Young Dolph Murder Accessory Mistakenly Released, Now On The LAM
Memphis police mistakenly released a suspect in the murder of Young Dolph. Now they can’t find him.
Third Suspect Arrested..Then Released?
Tennessee police recently identified and captured an additional person alongside the two primary suspects in the murder of Young Dolph. Shundale Barnett, 27, was caught in Brazil, Indiana, and booked for an outstanding warrant from Shelby County, Tennessee. Barnett was set to be charged as an after-the-fact accessory to Dolph’s murder. She’s now missing and on the lam from authorities.
Authorities are claiming Barnett helped the primary suspects, 23-year-old Justin Johnson and 32-year-old Cornelius Smith, flee from Memphis after the shooting. Barnett was then held in Clay County, Indiana awaiting to be extradited to Shelby County Sheriff’s office. According to News 3 in Memphis, Barnett was instead released from custody in Indiana, on January 21st, just one week after being arrested. Authorities are saying they have “no idea” where Barnett is.
Young Dolph Shot Dead in Memphis
In mid-November, Memphis-born rapper/entrepreneur Young Dolph was gunned down in his hometown, while purchasing cookies. Video surveillance showed two-masked men hop out of a white Mercedes Benz and open fire on the rapper inside Makeda’s cookie shop. After an almost two-month-long manhunt for the suspects, two men believed to be the main shooters were arrested and taken into custody in January. Officers believe a third suspect was in the getaway car during the shooting.
Failed Justice System
Sheriff Harden of Clay County is blaming the mixup on Shelby County officials, telling officials, “We held them (Barnett), contacted Shelby County, and held him on their warrant. We were contacted on January 21 and they told us that they (Shelby County) were no longer wanting to come up and pick up Mr. Barnett and that we were to release him at this time.”
Now, the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office has issued another warrant for Barnett’s arrest on the original accessory-after-the-fact charge and new attempted first-degree murder, with theft of property charges added.
It is still unclear why Barnett was released in the first place.
Young Dolph’s Family Fights Back Against Gun Violence
It has been three months since the passing of Memphis rapper Young Dolph and his life partner and mother of his two children, Mia Jaye, is coping and committed to pushing back against the violence in their city.
