Jury deliberations begin in trial of man accused of organizing rapper
Young Dolph's killing
[August 21, 2025]
By ADRIAN SAINZ
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — A jury began deliberating Wednesday in the trial
of a man charged with organizing the daytime ambush killing of rapper
Young Dolph at a Memphis bakery in November 2021.
The trial of Hernandez Govan, 45, began Monday in a Memphis courtroom.
Govan is charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and
first-degree murder. He is not accused of shooting Young Dolph, but
prosecutors claim he directed the two people who did and was criminally
responsible for the commission of premeditated murder.
The 12-person jury began deliberating at about 5:15 p.m., after
prosecutors and a defense attorney delivered closing arguments. The
panel adjourned at about 6:50 p.m., and is expected to return Thursday
morning to resume its work.
Young Dolph — a rapper, independent label owner and producer whose legal
name was Adolph Thornton Jr. — grew up in Memphis and was admired in the
city for his charitable works. The 36-year-old was in his hometown to
hand out Thanksgiving turkeys to families when his visit to his favorite
cookie shop turned into an attack that shocked the entertainment world.
Authorities said two men exited a white Mercedes-Benz and began shooting
at the rapper at the bakery on Nov. 17, 2021. He died after being shot
about 20 times, according to a medical examiner's report.
Testifying against Govan was Cornelius Smith Jr., who has admitted to
being one of the two shooters who ambushed Young Dolph. Smith previously
was the main trial witness against Justin Johnson, who was convicted of
first-degree murder in 2024 after Smith named him as the second shooter.
Memphis prosecutors have portrayed the killing as part an effort by
Anthony “Big Jook” Mims to get revenge on Young Dolph for diss tracks
aimed at Big Jook and the record label he helped run for his brother,
rapper Yo Gotti. Smith has testified that Big Jook put out a $100,000
hit on Young Dolph as well as smaller bounties on all the artists at
Young Dolph’s record label, Paper Route Empire.
At the earlier trial of Justin Johnson, a prosecutor told jurors that
Cocaine Muzik Group (now known as Collective Music Group), a rival
record label founded by Yo Gotti, wanted Young Dolph to work for them,
but he turned them down.
Big Jook was shot and killed outside a restaurant in January 2024.
Prosecutors argued Govan was the middle man between Big Jook and the two
shooters. Smith testified on Monday that “I didn’t know anything about
Paper Route having no hits,” before Govan told him about them. He said
Govan hired him to “do the hits," and was going to take $10,000 as his
cut.
[to top of second column]
|
Young Dolph performs at The Parking Lot Concert in Atlanta on Aug.
23, 2020. (Photo by Paul R. Giunta/Invision/AP, File)
 Govan was also the person who told
him and Johnson that Young Dolph would be in Memphis for the
Thanksgiving turkey giveaway, so “that’s our opportunity,” Smith
said.
Prosecutors introduced as evidence cellphone communications
involving Johnson, Smith, Govan and Big Jook ahead of the shooting.
Meanwhile, Govan’s defense attorney, Manny Arora, tried to paint
Smith as an unreliable witness and a “pathological liar” who would
say anything to try to get a lighter sentence. He also questioned
the validity of the cellphone communications, saying none directly
incriminated Govan.
Arora pointed to previous testimony where Smith recalled a chance
encounter with Big Jook. At the time, Smith implied that Big Jook
was the person who hired him. After Smith was arrested, his attorney
called Big Jook’s attorney and received somewhere between $38,000
and $50,000 in cash. Smith said on Monday that he did not know who
had supplied the money.
Smith also testified that he previously heard that Govan might be
working with the FBI. Arora asked why Smith would take a job from
Govan if that were the case. Smith said that Govan was “innocent
until proven guilty.”
Govan did not testify in his defense. A trial date has not been set
for Smith.
Johnson was sentenced to life in prison in September 2024. He was
later sentenced to 35 additional years in prison for two other
convictions from the trial: conspiracy to commit murder and
possessing a gun as a felon.
Young Dolph began his career by releasing numerous mixtapes. His
studio albums include his 2016 debut, “King of Memphis.” He also
collaborated on other mixtapes and albums with fellow rappers Key
Glock, Megan Thee Stallion, T.I., Gucci Mane, 2 Chainz and others.
Young Dolph had three albums reach the top 10 on the Billboard 200,
with 2020′s “Rich Slave” peaking at No. 4.
All contents © copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved
 |
