Key Glock appeared to share his thoughts on the man accused of plotting Young Dolph’s murder being found not guilty.
On Thursday August 21, Hernandez Govan, 45, was acquitted in Memphis, Tennessee, on three murder charges in connection with the 2021 death of 36-year-old Dolph (real name Adolph Robert Thornton Jr.). Key Glock, another Memphis rapper, was a close collaborator of the late artist and signed to Dolph’s Paper Route Empire label. The pair collaborated on multiple projects including 2018’s “Major,” plus the RIAA certified-gold album Dum Dummer.
Govan had been accused of orchestrating the 2021 killing of Young Dolph, whose real name was Adolph Thornton Jr., outside a Memphis bakery. But after a short deliberation, jurors found Govan not guilty of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. The defense team argued that the prosecution’s case leaned heavily on unreliable testimony from Cornelius Smith, one of the convicted shooters. Smith was described during trial as a “pathological liar” who was angling for a reduced sentence. Attorneys also challenged the cellphone records introduced by prosecutors, stating they lacked direct links to Govan. No DNA, physical evidence or eyewitness testimony tied him to the crime. After roughly two to three hours of deliberation, the jury agreed with the defense’s position that the state failed to prove Govan’s involvement beyond a reasonable doubt. He also criticized the prosecution’s approach, saying the process left him both relieved and disillusioned with the justice system.
The verdict left many in Memphis stunned, especially those close to Dolph, who had been a major figure in the city’s Hip-Hop scene. Young Dolph was allegedly killed over a feud with Yo Gotti involving the latter’s record label, Collective Music Group, formerly Cocaine Muzik Group. Govan was accused of orchestrating the shooting involving Justin Johnson, who was convicted and sentenced to life in prison, and Cornelius Smith, who still faces charges. During Govan’s trial, Smith said Yo Gotti’s big brother, Anthony “Big Jook” Mims, had put out a $100,000 hit on Young Dolph. Smith said Govan promised him and Johnson $40,000 each for the killing but that he only ever saw $800 of that. Prosecutors argued that Smith was an unreliable witness who just wanted a shorter sentence.
