Memphis Jury Acquits Hernandez Govan in Young Dolph 2021 Killing

Hernandez Govan was acquitted of all charges related to the 2021 ambush killing of Memphis rapper Young Dolph, after a jury deliberated for about three hours. Prosecutors accused Govan of orchestrating the shooting by directing the gunmen and tipping them off about Dolph’s whereabouts, citing testimony from Cornelius Smith Jr., one of the admitted shooters, who claimed Govan recruited him and offered payment. However, the defense challenged the credibility of Smith's testimony and the police investigation, arguing there was insufficient evidence directly linking Govan to the murder. Young Dolph, also known as Adolph Thornton Jr., was fatally shot while visiting a bakery in Memphis to distribute Thanksgiving turkeys, an event that shocked the music community. Despite Smith’s cooperation leading to convictions of other suspects, the jury was unconvinced of Govan’s involvement in masterminding the attack. The verdict marks a significant development in a case that has deeply affected Dolph’s family, fans, and the Memphis community.