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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 3 hours before finding Hernandez Govan, 45, not guilty of first-degree murder & conspiracy to commit first-degree murder.
Govan was not accused of shooting Young Dolph, but prosecutors claimed he directed the 2 people who did. The jury was not convinced, however, despite a man’s testimony that Govan hired him to “do the hits” & was going to take $10,000 as his cut.
Young Dolph, whose legal name is Adolph Thornton Jr., 36, was a rapper & independent label owner who grew up in Memphis.
Authorities said 2 men exited a white Mercedes Benz & began shooting at the rapper at the bakery. He died after being shot about 20 times.
Testifying against Govan was Cornelius Smith Jr., who has admitted to being 1 of the 2 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.
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 & 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.
Big Jook was shot & killed outside a restaurant in January 2024.
Prosecutors introduced as evidence dozens of cellphone communications between Johnson, Smith, Govan & Big Jook ahead of the shooting.
Smith is charged with murder & conspiracy to commit murder but has pleaded not guilty.
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