Hernandez Govan stood accused of organizing the killing of rapper Young Dolph, but was found not guilty on Aug. 21 in Florida, where a recent record execution pace was hit.
Hernandez was not accused of shooting Young Dolph. Instead, prosecutors claimed he directed the two individuals who did. The jury was not convinced, however, despite a mans testimony that Hernandez hired him to do the hits and was going to take $10,000 as his cut.
Hernandez’s lawyer questioned the quality of the police investigation and the validity of cellphone communications between Hernandez and the men who shot Dolph, including one who was found guilty, arguing that nothing in the communications directly incriminated Hernandez or tied him to the killings.
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 the entertainment world, according to the Associated Press.
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 examiners report.
Justin Johnson was found guilty of first-degree murder, guilty of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, and guilty of being a convicted felon in possession of a handgun in September 2024. The 26-year-old was immediately sentenced to life in prison. He was sentenced to 35 additional years in prison during a November 2024 hearing.
Cornelius Smith Jr., another suspect, was charged with first-degree murder, weapons possession, and theft charges. He still faces trial. Cornelius Smith, who has admitted to being one of the two shooters who ambushed Young Dolph, testified against Hernandez.
Cornelius previously was the main trial witness against Justin.
Shundale Barnett, who was a passenger in the vehicle when Cornelius was arrested, was charged with being an “after-the-fact accessory.”
Jemarcus Johnson reached a plea deal. He pled guilty to three counts of accessory after-the-fact in exchange for his conspiracy to murder charge dropped. He was expected to testify against the other individuals.
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 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 Dolphs record label, Paper Route Empire.
Big Jook was shot and killed outside a restaurant in January 2024.
Prosecutors argued Hernandez was the middle man between Big Jook and the two shooters. Smith testified on Monday that I didnt know anything about Paper Route having no hits, before Hernandez told him about them. He said Hernandez hired him to do the hits, and was going to take $10,000 as his cut.
Hernandez was also the person who told him and Johnson that Young Dolph would be in Memphis for the Thanksgiving turkey giveaway, so thats our opportunity, Smith said.
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