Justin Johnson was found guilty of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and being a felon in possession of a firearm in the killing of rapper Young Dolph, whose real name was Adolph Thornton Jr., in November 2021. The jury reached a unanimous verdict after about four hours of deliberation following a four-day trial. Johnson was sentenced to life in prison for the murder charge, with additional sentences for the other charges to be determined in November. Testimony revealed that Johnson and Cornelius Smith were allegedly hired by Hernandez Govan to carry out the murder, with financial incentives discussed. Smith, who admitted to firing the fatal shots, claimed they were involved in a $100,000 hit orchestrated by Big Jook, the slain brother of rapper Yo Gotti. Young Dolph's family has been active in advocating for justice and preserving his legacy throughout the trial process.