Hernandez Govan, the individual authorities alleged orchestrated the k!lling of US rapper Young Dolph, has been found not guilty following approximately three hours of jury deliberation.
Hernandez was not charged with sh0oting Young Dolph. Instead, prosecutors asserted he coordinated the actions of the two men who carried out the sh0oting.
However, the jury remained unconvinced, despite testimony from a man claiming Hernandez recruited him to “do the hits” and intended to claim $10,000 as his share.
Hernandez’s attorney challenged the thoroughness of the police investigation and the reliability of cellphone communications between Hernandez and the men who sh0t Dolph, including one who was convicted, arguing that nothing in those communications explicitly implicated Hernandez or connected him to the k!llings.
Young Dolph, legally named Adolph Thornton Jr., was a rapper, independent label owner, and producer who grew up in Memphis and was respected in the community for his charitable efforts. The 36-year-old was in his hometown to distribute Thanksgiving turkeys to families when his stop at his favorite cookie shop turned deadly, shocking the entertainment industry, according to the Associated Press.
Authorities reported that two men emerged from a white Mercedes-Benz and opened fire on the rapper at the bakery. He succumbed to his injuries after being sh0t approximately 20 times, as detailed in a medical examiner’s report.
Justin Johnson was convicted of first-degree murd£r, conspiracy to commit first-degree murd£r, and being a convicted felon in possession of a handgun in September 2024. The 26-year-old was immediately sentenced to life in prison. He received an additional 35-year sentence during a November 2024 hearing.
Cornelius Smith Jr., another suspect, faces charges of first-degree murd£r, weapons possession, and theft. His trial is still pending.
Cornelius Smith, who has confessed to being one of the two shooters who ambushed Young Dolph, provided testimony against Hernandez.
Cornelius had previously served as the primary trial witness against Justin.
Shundale Barnett, who was a passenger in the vehicle when Cornelius was arrested, was charged with being an “after-the-fact accessory.”
Jemarcus Johnson secured a plea deal, pleading guilty to three counts of accessory after-the-fact in exchange for the dismissal of his conspiracy to murd£r charge. He was expected to testify against the other suspects.
Memphis prosecutors have described the k!lling as part of a revenge plot by Anthony “Big Jook” Mims targeting Young Dolph for diss tracks directed at Big Jook and the record label he helped manage for his brother, rapper Yo Gotti. Smith testified that Big Jook placed a $100,000 hit on Young Dolph and offered smaller bounties on all artists signed to Young Dolph’s record label, Paper Route Empire.
Big Jook was sh0t and k!lled outside a restaurant in January 2024.
Prosecutors argued that Hernandez acted as the intermediary between Big Jook and the two shooters. Smith testified on Monday that “I didn’t know anything about Paper Route having no hits,” until Hernandez informed him about them. He stated Hernandez hired him to “do the hits,” and was going to take $10,000 as his cut.
Hernandez was also the one who informed him and Johnson that Young Dolph would be in Memphis for the Thanksgiving turkey giveaway, stating “that’s our opportunity,” according to Smith.
A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.
Nnamdi Okoli