Felix Ledger
Published: Thursday, August 21
Updated: Thursday, August 21
3 months ago
Credited from: NEWSWEEK
A Memphis jury on Thursday found Hernandez Govan not guilty of organizing the 2021 ambush killing of rapper Young Dolph, rejecting prosecutors' claims that he directed the attack outside a local bakery. The jury deliberated for about three hours before acquitting the 45-year-old of first-degree murder and conspiracy charges. Govan expressed gratitude towards his attorney and Judge Jennifer Mitchell following the verdict and was released from custody, according to CBS News and HuffPost.
Prosecutors alleged that Govan orchestrated the murder by instructing two men to kill Young Dolph, born Adolph Thornton Jr., in a planned ambush during the rapper’s charity event to distribute Thanksgiving turkeys. They cited testimony from admitted gunman Cornelius Smith JrNewsweek.
Govan's defense attorney, Manny Arora, challenged the quality of the police investigation and the reliability of Smith’s testimony, pointing out inconsistencies and the lack of direct evidence linking Govan to any conspiracy. Arora portrayed Smith as self-serving, highlighting prior financial connections to the co-defendant, Anthony "Big Jook" Mims, whom prosecutors allege had ordered the hit on Young Dolph, as stated in CBS News and HuffPost.
Young Dolph, who was 36 years old at the time of his death, was shot multiple times outside a cookie shop in Memphis, a city where he was well-known for his music and community philanthropy. The shocking incident unfolded as he was handing out turkeys, which had been a part of his charitable endeavors, as highlighted by multiple sources including Newsweek and HuffPost.
The narrative surrounding Young Dolph’s death is also tied to ongoing disputes within Memphis’ rap scene, particularly between rival artists and record labels. Prosecutors have indicated that Anthony "Big Jook" Mims and his association with the local label Cocaine Muzik Group played a significant role in the events leading to Dolph’s murder. Mims reportedly had issued a $100,000 bounty on Young Dolph, and in a tragic twist, was shot dead himself in January 2024, according to CBS News and HuffPost.
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