The man accused of arranging the killing of rapper Young Dolph was acquitted on Thursday. Hernandez Govan was found not guilty of both counts, first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder, by a jury.
Young Dolph, whose real name was Adolph Robert Thornton Jr., was shot and killed at age 36 outside Makeda’s Butter Cookies in Memphis in November 2021.
Govan was not accused of shooting Young Dolph, but of organizing the hit. Prosecutors argued that Govan had directed the two people who ambushed the rapper.
The 12-person jury, composed of five men and seven women, deliberated for about an hour on Wednesday night before beginning back up on Thursday morning, WMC reported.
Following the deliberation in the morning, the jury returned a verdict of not guilty. Govan hugged his lawyer and thanked Shelby County Judge Jennifer Mitchell after she told him he could go.
Cornelius Smith Jr. testified against Govan during the trial. Smith had said in the past that he and another man, known as Justin Johnson, were the two shooters who ambushed Young Dolph. After being convicted of first-degree murder in 2024, Johnson was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole. He was also given 35 years for two additional convictions from his trial.
Testifying against Govan, Smith alleged that Govan had hired him to “do the hits”, adding that Govan told him and Johnson that Young Dolph would be in Memphis in November, WMC reported.
Govan’s defense attorney argued that Smith was an unreliable witness who was doing everything to try to receive a lighter sentence.
Smith is charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. He has pleaded not guilty and does not have a trial date.
