Hernandez Govan acquitted in ambush slaying of rapper Young Dolph
A Memphis man accused of orchestrating the 2021 ambush killing of rapper Young Dolph has been acquitted of all charges.
After roughly three hours of deliberation, a jury found 45-year-old Hernandez Govan not guilty of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. Prosecutors alleged Govan ordered two men to carry out the fatal attack, but jurors were not convinced, despite testimony from one shooter who claimed Govan hired him and expected a $10,000 cut.
Govan’s defense attorney questioned the thoroughness of the police investigation and challenged the reliability of cellphone records used as evidence, arguing there was no direct link tying Govan to the killing. Following the verdict, Govan embraced his lawyer and thanked the judge for granting his release.
Young Dolph, born Adolph Thornton Jr., was a beloved Memphis rapper, producer, and philanthropist. He was in his hometown, handing out Thanksgiving turkeys in November 2021, when he stopped at a local bakery and was gunned down. Authorities said two men exited a white Mercedes-Benz and opened fire, hitting him about 20 times.
The attack followed prior attempts on Young Dolph’s life, including a 2017 shooting in Los Angeles that left him critically injured. Prosecutors have claimed his killing was connected to an ongoing feud involving Anthony “Big Jook” Mims, brother of rapper Yo Gotti. Mims allegedly offered a $100,000 bounty on Young Dolph and smaller amounts on other artists associated with Young Dolph’s Paper Route Empire label. Big Jook himself was fatally shot outside a restaurant in early 2024.
Cornelius Smith Jr., one of the admitted shooters, testified against Govan, alleging that Govan provided guns and information on Young Dolph’s whereabouts. Smith has pleaded not guilty to his own murder and conspiracy charges and does not have a trial date. His co-defendant, Justin Johnson, was convicted of first-degree murder in 2024 and sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole, along with additional sentences for other offenses.
During Govan’s trial, the defense sought to cast Smith as an unreliable witness seeking a reduced sentence, pointing out inconsistencies in his testimony and financial ties to Big Jook’s associates. Govan himself chose not to testify.
The high-profile case has drawn national attention both for its connection to a beloved hip-hop figure and for its ties to ongoing disputes in the Memphis music scene.
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