Hernandez Govan was acquitted of three charges related to the ambush death of Young Dolph. A jury ruled on Thursday to clear the 45-year-old of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, according to the Associated Press. Govan reportedly thanked Judge Jennifer Mitchell after she ordered his release. Prosecutors attempted to prove that Hernandez was the mastermind behind the cookie shop drive-by executed by Cornelius Smith Jr. and Justin Johnson.

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Details About The “Not Guilty” Verdict

Their efforts fell short, however. Instead of siding with the prosecutors’ argument that Hernandez Govan provided everything necessary to carry out the murder, they acquitted him. His lawyer questioned how the police conducted the investigation and cast doubt on the cellphone evidence presented by prosecutors, arguing that it did not incriminate Govan.

“Thankfully the jurors listened; they saw the holes in the case,” Govan’s lawyer Manny Arora stated.

Even with testimony from Cornelius Smith, the prosecutors struggled in their argument. Smith claimed Big Jook placed a $100,000 hit on Dolph due to street and booth conflicts with his brother, Yo Gotti. Jook died in January 2024 after being shot outside a restaurant. In court on Monday, Cornelius stated that Hernandez had him carry out hits and was planning to take a $10,000 cut. He also allegedly informed Smith and Johnson about Young Dolph’s movements in Memphis during November 2021.

None of it was sufficient to secure a conviction on any charges. After Judge Mitchell announced that he could go free, Hernandez Govan embraced his lawyer, Arora.

Hernandez Govan’s Trial & Jury Deliberations Didn’t Last Long

The trial for Hernandez Govan commenced on Monday (August 18). Govan did not testify in his defense; Cornelius testified against him. By Wednesday, both sides had presented their closing arguments, and the jury began deliberations at 5:15 p.m. The panel adjourned around 6:50 p.m. They resumed on Thursday and delivered the verdict within approximately three hours.

As mentioned, Smith turned against Govan and Justin Johnson, naming them to authorities. He also testified in Johnson’s trial, where Johnson was ultimately convicted of first-degree murder in 2024. He received a life sentence and an additional 25 years for conspiracy to commit murder and possessing a firearm as a felon.

While Hernandez is heading home today, it remains unclear when Cornelius Smith’s trial will begin or what deal prosecutors might offer him after he testified in two trials on their behalf.

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