A Tennessee state court has delayed a plea hearing for Cornelius Smith, the admitted gunman in the 2021 killing of Memphis rapper Young Dolph, as counsel for both sides finalize the terms of a negotiated agreement.
Smith, 36, was expected to enter a guilty plea Thursday in connection with the fatal shooting of the “100 Shots” hitmaker, born Adolph Thornton Jr. Instead, the court reset the matter to March 30 at the request of attorneys who said they needed additional time to “iron out the details” of the deal before presenting it to the judge.
Smith previously testified under oath during the trial of co-defendant Justin Johnson. On the stand, he admitted that he and Johnson carried out what he described as a paid hit.
Smith told jurors the order originated with Big Jook, the late brother of Memphis rapper Yo Gotti. Big Jook was later killed in a separate shooting.
Young Dolph’s Shooter Corneilius Smith Accepts Plea Deal
Young Dolph was gunned down on Nov. 17, 2021, at Makeda’s Homemade Butter Cookies in Memphis, a storefront he frequently visited. The killing prompted widespread public reaction and intensified scrutiny of violence within the local music scene.
Johnson was subsequently convicted of first-degree murder and related offenses. Prosecutors argued the shooting was premeditated and financially motivated. A jury found him guilty on all counts, and he received a life sentence in state prison.
Another defendant, Hernandez Govan, was accused of orchestrating the murder by connecting the shooters to the alleged plot. However, a jury acquitted Govan last summer, marking a significant shift in the prosecution’s case.
Smith is the last remaining defendant whose legal exposure has not been resolved. His anticipated plea could conclude one of Memphis’ most closely watched criminal proceedings in recent years.
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