MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The man accused of ordering the hit that killed Memphis rapper Young Dolph in 2021 was arrested on June 23, 2024, by Southaven police on a stalking charge from 2019.
According to the limited information provided by the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Department, Hernandez Govan was arrested on a warrant for “stalking, repeatedly following, harassing or making threats” from Nov. 22, 2019.
Jail records show Govan was booked into the DeSoto County Jail on June 23 and released the next day on a total of $2,250 bond. Those jail records indicate Govan was also charged with having a suspended license and improperly mounted license tag.
Govan has been out on bond in the Young Dolph case since posting bail on May 11, 2023, but he was ordered to stay on house arrest.
During a hearing in February 2024, Judge Jennifer Mitchell warned Govan that he needed to stop playing "fast and loose" with the bond stipulations. The judge said he was not following the bond conditions, after she received calls from 'concerned citizens' that he was doing interviews.
Judge Mitchell told Govan he was to stay in the house, and could not leave for any reason, including funerals.
It is not clear how Govan’s arrest in Southaven will affect his bond release in Shelby County.
Govan faces charges of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first degree murder, and attempted murder in the Young Dolph case. Shelby County D.A. Steve Mulroy said Govan was the man who ordered the hit that killed Young Dolph.
Manny Arora, who represents Govan, previously said it is "abundantly clear" Govan had nothing to do with the shooting which killed Young Dolph, whose real name was Adolph Thornton Jr.
The first two suspects arrested - Justin Johnson, 24, and Cornelius Smith, 32, were indicted in January 2022 on charges of first-degree murder, criminal attempted first-degree murder, unlawful carrying and possession of a firearm, employment of a firearm with intent to commit a felony, and theft of property. They are set to go to trial in September 2024.
Another suspect, Jermarcus Johnson, pled guilty to three counts of accessory after the fact in October, in exchange for information into other suspects in the case. He faces six to 12 years in jail.
Young Dolph was fatally shot at Makeda's Cookies on Airways Boulevard a year ago on Nov. 17, 2021. Police have said two men got out of a stolen Mercedes-Benz and fired shots into Makeda’s Homemade Cookies, where Young Dolph was making a purchase.
