A third man faces murder charges in connection to the high-profile murder of Memphis rapper Young Dolph.
Hernandez Govan, 43, has been indicted on charges of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder.
Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy told FOX13 that Govan is the one who solicited the murder, leading Justin Johnson and Cornelius Smith to shoot the Memphis rapper in broad daylight at Makeda’s Homemade Butter Cookies on November 17, 2021.
Mulroy said that it was Govan who asked for the murder to take place.
The indictment charging Govan in Young Dolph’s death came a week before the anniversary of his murder.
Young Dolph died at the scene of that shooting on November 17, the same day Govan is charged with committing first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder.
But his third charge, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, dates back to June 2021, meaning that authorities believe Govan started planning Young Dolph’s murder months before the beloved rapper was shot to death.
Another man, Shundale Barnett, has been charged with accessory after the fact, accused of helping Justin Johnson following Young Dolph’s murder. Barnett was arrested in Indiana and released. A warrant for first-degree murder has since been issued for Barnett, though he has not been arrested for that warrant at this time and it is unclear if that murder charge is connected to the Young Dolph case.
In a court hearing last Friday, Johnson asked to be moved from the jail at 201 Poplar to the penal farm, reportedly due to safety concerns. The judge said last Friday that would be at the discretion of Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner.
Johnson and Smith were indicted in January 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.
Young Dolph, whose real name was Adolph Thornton Jr., was fatally shot at Makeda’s Cookies on Airways Boulevard nearly 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. Police released photos taken from surveillance video that captured the shooting.
Johnson also faces additional charges from a non-related case. He failed to register as a sex offender, violating the Sex Offender Registry Act.
Both Johnson and Smith are due back in court on Jan. 20, 2023.
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