Key Takeaways:

• The jury discovered Hernandez Govan not responsible within the trial involving rapper Young Dolph’s loss of life.
• He was initially dealing with counts of conspiracy to commit first-degree homicide and tried first-degree homicide.
• Prosecutors alleged Govan was the hyperlink between the shooters utilizing cellphone information.

Hernandez Govan, the alleged “mastermind” behind Young Dolph’s 2021 murder, has been acquitted on all expenses. On Thursday (Aug. 21) morning, the jury returned its verdict after practically three hours of deliberation and two days of testimony.

Prosecutors initially included an tried first-degree homicide cost, however that rely was dropped earlier than the trial started. Govan, who was beforehand launched on a $90,000 bond, had already rejected a plea deal.

Footage from the decision confirmed Govan hugging his protection crew and wiping away tears as every jury member confirmed the not-guilty choice. Scroll down to look at the video.

“We have to respect a jury’s decision even if we disagree with it,” Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy mentioned following the decision, per ABC 24 Memphis.

According to The Commercial Appeal, prosecutors centered a lot of their case on the concept Govan was the connection between Justin “Straight Drop” Johnson and Cornelius Smith — the 2 males who shot and killed Young Dolph — and Big Jook, Yo Gotti’s late brother, who allegedly provided $100,000 for the hit.

Most of the state’s proof got here from cellphone information obtained from carriers. As the outlet famous, “These records did not show the content of the communications but were used to display the number of interactions each of the defendants had with one another.”

It’s additionally price mentioning that cellphone logs confirmed Govan was involved with each the opposite defendants and Jook. However, the protection repeatedly challenged Memphis police investigators for failing to interrogate Jook, regardless of his title showing all through the case.

As Rap-Up previously reported, Johnson, the gunman, was convicted in 2024 on a number of expenses, together with first-degree homicide and possession of a firearm as a felon.

Dolph would’ve celebrated his fortieth birthday in July. His fiancée and the mom of their two kids, Mia Jaye, honored the “Get Paid” rapper with a heartfelt tribute on Instagram.