Jury acquits Memphis man charged with organizing the daytime ambush
killing of rapper Young Dolph
[August 22, 2025]
By ADRIAN SAINZ
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — A jury found a man not guilty Thursday of
organizing the daytime ambush killing of rapper Young Dolph at a Memphis
bakery in November 2021.
A Memphis jury deliberated about three hours before finding Hernandez
Govan, 45, not guilty of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit
first-degree murder.
Govan hugged his lawyer and thanked Shelby County Judge Jennifer
Mitchell after she told him he was free to go.
Govan was not accused of shooting Young Dolph, but prosecutors claimed
he directed the two people who did. The jury was not convinced, however,
despite a man’s testimony that Govan hired him to “do the hits” and was
going to take $10,000 as his cut.
Govan’s lawyer questioned the quality of the police investigation and
the validity of cellphone communications between Govan and the men who
shot Young Dolph, arguing that nothing directly incriminated Govan or
tied him to the killings.
“Thankfully the jurors listened, they saw the holes in the case,” said
Manny Arora, Govan's lawyer.
Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy said he was disappointed
with the verdict.
“We know this has been an incredibly difficult process for Young Dolph’s
family,” Mulroy said in a statement.
Young Dolph's killing rattled Memphis
Young Dolph, whose legal name is Adolph Thornton Jr., was a rapper,
independent label owner and producer who 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 Memphis and
the entertainment world.
Authorities said two men exited a white Mercedes Benz and began shooting
at the rapper at the bakery. He died after being shot about 20 times,
according to a medical examiner’s report.
After the killing, the bakery, Makeda’s Homemade Cookies, turned into a
memorial to Young Dolph. He also was honored at a Memphis Grizzlies game
and the city named a street after him. Murals of the rapper were painted
around the city.
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 witness against Justin Johnson, who was convicted of
first-degree murder in 2024 after Smith named him as the second shooter.
Testimony describes rivalry in the Memphis rap world
Prosecutors 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 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. No
arrests have been made in his death and he was never charged in Young
Dolph's killing.
[to top of second column]
|
Hernandez Govan, accused of orchestrating the killing of rapper
Young Dolph, reacts in the courtroom after being acquitted on all
charges Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025 in Memphis, Tenn. (Chris
Day/Commercial Appeal/USA Today Network via Pool)
 Smith testified 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. 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 dozens of cellphone
communications between Johnson, Smith, Govan and Big Jook ahead of
the shooting.
Defense attorney casts doubts on the case
Meanwhile, Govan’s defense attorney, Manny Arora, painted Smith as
an unreliable witness and a “pathological liar” who would say
anything to try to get a lighter sentence.
Arora pointed to previous testimony where Smith recalled a chance
encounter with Big Jook. At the time, Smith implied 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 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 Govan was “innocent until proven
guilty.”
“None of you would buy a pack of gum based on the word of Cornelius
Smith,” Arora told the jury during closing arguments.
Smith is charged with murder and conspiracy to commit murder. He has
pleaded not guilty and does not yet have a trial date.
Arora also questioned why Big Jook was not investigated more closely
and cast doubts on the cellphone communications used as evidence at
trial. He called a police investigator a liar during closing
arguments and said that just because prosecutors have communications
involving Govan, it “doesn't mean you're in a conspiracy to kill
someone.”
Johnson was sentenced last September to life in prison with the
possibility of parole. He was later sentenced 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 |
