Man Accused of Organizing Ambush Killing of Rapper Young Dolph Found Not Guilty
A man accused of organizing the ambush killing of rapper Young Dolph in a Memphis bakery in 2021 has been found not guilty. Hernandez Govan, 45, was acquitted of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder after a jury deliberated for approximately three hours.
Govan had rejected an offer from the state to plead guilty last month, according to CBS News partner WREG. After the verdict, Govan hugged his lawyer and thanked Shelby County Judge Jennifer Mitchell, who told him he was free to go.
Although Govan was not accused of directly shooting Young Dolph, the prosecution argued that he had commissioned the killing and would receive a $10,000 cut. However, the jury was not convinced, despite testimony from a man who claimed Govan had hired him to carry out the hit.
Govan’s lawyer questioned the quality of the police investigation and the validity of cell phone communications between Govan and the men who shot Young Dolph. The lawyer argued that nothing directly linked Govan to the crime or the communications.
Background on the Case
Young Dolph, whose legal name is Adolph Thornton Jr., was a rapper, independent label owner, and producer who grew up in Memphis. He was admired in the city for his non-profit work and was in his hometown on the day of the ambush in 2021 to distribute Thanksgiving turkeys.
According to authorities, two men left a white Mercedes-Benz and began shooting Young Dolph in the bakery. He died after being shot approximately 20 times, according to a medical examiner’s report.
Young Dolph had suffered critical injuries in a previous attack in 2017, when three men approached and shot him over a “beef,” according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Earlier that year, he was involved in a separate shootout, in which at least 100 bullets were fired at his SUV.
Co-Conspirators and Previous Convictions
Cornelius Smith Jr., who admitted to being one of the two shooters who attacked Young Dolph, previously testified against Justin Johnson, who was convicted of first-degree murder in 2024. Smith is charged with murder and conspiracy to commit murder and has pleaded not guilty.
Johnson was originally sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole, plus 35 years for two additional convictions related to the case. The prosecution has presented the murder of Young Dolph as part of an effort by Anthony “Big Jook” Mims to take revenge on Young Dolph for diss tracks.
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Source: www.cbsnews.com
