MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A trial date has been set for the man accused of ordering the hit on Memphis rapper Young Dolph.
During a court hearing Wednesday, Oct. 9 for Hernandez Govan, a judge set the trial date for March 10, 2025. An interim hearing is set for Nov. 22, 2024.
Govan did not testify at the trial of Justin Johnson, who was convicted of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, and felon in possession of a firearm. Johnson was immediately sentenced to life in prison after the verdict on Thursday, Sept. 26.
Shelby County Deputy District Attorney Paul Hagerman did not comment on whether Govan is expected to take a plea on charges of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, and attempted first-degree murder. Govan remains out of jail on $90,000 bond.
Hagerman said they are taking the cases one at a time.
“The family of Dolph have been patient. They saw the trial work a couple weeks ago. So, they are on board to see this thing through, and so are we,” said Hagerman. “Our goal remains the same, to hold people responsible who are involved.”
Another suspect, Jermarcus Johnson - Justin Johnson's half-brother, pleaded guilty to three counts of accessory after the fact in October 2023 and faces six to 12 years in jail. He also had a court hearing on Oct. 9. The hearing for Jermarcus was reset to Nov. 22 because he did not have a pre-sentence report from his probation officer. He remains out of jail on $25,000 bond until he is sentenced.
Jermarcus Johnson testified against Justin at the first trial, saying he had helped out Justin by taking Justin’s phone and posting to social media for him. Jermarcus said he had no part in the plan to kill Dolph.
Another man accused in the murder – Cornelius Smith – is due in court Nov. 15. Smith faces charges of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, and attempted first-degree murder.
Smith took the stand against Justin Johnson on the first day of the trial, admitting to killing Dolph. Smith testified that he met with ‘Quett' (Govan) and ‘Big Jook’ (Anthony Mims – Yo Gotti’s brother), who Smith said put out a $100,000 hit on Young Dolph. Govan paired Smith with Johnson for the shooting, he testified.
Smith also identified both himself and Johnson in the video from Makeda’s Cookies on Airways Blvd. from Nov. 17, 2021, when Young Dolph, whose real name was Adolph Thornton Jr., was shot.
Police 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.
Prosecutors claimed the shooting was part of a rap feud between Dolph’s Paper Route EMPIRE (PRE) label and Yo Gotti’s Collective Music Group (CMG – aka Cocaine Muzik Group).
Following the first trial, Shelby County District Attorney General Steve Mulroy said Smith's and Govan’s fates would be decided either through trial or plea deal and would depend on their level of cooperation.
