Young Dolph’s alleged killers face a dilemma in the early stages of their trial.
According to Fox 13 Memphis, a judge informed 32-year-old Cornelius Smith and 23-year-old Justin Johnson, the latter known as Straight Drop, they would have to have a lawyer by February 4. Otherwise, they would have a court-appointed one.
The announcement came on Friday (January 28) as the two appeared inside a judge’s courtroom after he initially gave them nine days to procure a lawyer. The pair initially declined to have a public defender during their first court appearance.
Johnson and Smith were indicted on charges of first-degree premeditated murder, attempted first-degree murder, convicted felon in possession of a firearm, employment of a firearm in the commission of a dangerous felony, and theft of property over $10,000, according to the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office. A third suspect, 27-year-old Shaundale Barnett, was arrested and charged with being an after-the-fact accessory in connection with the killing on January 12.
The two men allegedly pulled up to Makeda’s Cookies in a white Mercedes and opened fire into the storefront, killing Dolph. Following a public memorial service at the FedEx Forum in December, Dolph’s Paper Route Empire released a tribute album, Long Live Young Dolph, on January 21.
Young Dolph Murder Suspect Facing Additional Charges For Rape & Robbery
Johnson had prior charges before he allegedly shot and killed the Memphis rap star. In 2015, he was charged with aggravated rape and robbery when he was only 17. He had been placed on the violent juvenile sex offender registry list at age 19 and was arraigned last week on the charges.
Johnson previously spent time behind bars for nine months in 2017 following a triple shooting at a bowling alley and drug and handgun charges in May 2018.
Hope these two boys rot to the bone
If you broke, dont do no dumb shit if u know u cant afford to.
If dey done caught dey self a case n dey ain’t got dey self a lawyer, den da judge shud just “straight drop” da sentence. #foreal
You can’t b as dumb as you screenname…
And you can’t be dumb enuff to be ridin for dem fools.
No defense attorney in Tennessee is dumb enough to represent those two idiots. Take that public defender and have fun with that life sentence
All the lawyers in the world,will not help you boys out of your dum azz crime you did, keep that money for your expenses in making your time!!
They gone rightfully die in prison. One way or the other, but I prefer the electric chair because that was totally uncalled for.
I”am with you Scat but unfortunately the electric chair been condemned in Tennessee.
I thought at least one of them had the same lawyer Black Yoingsta had, guess not. Someone will be switching soon.