Tennessee, the hometown of Dolph Young, the record label and rapper, was the location where he was shot and ambushed while buying cookies at a bakery. A man has been charged with arranging the killing and Dolph Young pleaded not guilty to the charges in court. This incident occurred in Memphis, Tennessee.
Govan Hernandez, the 43-year-old rapper who was indicted on charges of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and first-degree murder in the killing of the 36-year-old judge scheduled to hear his case on Dec. 16, was arrested last week in Memphis. He made a brief appearance in Shelby County Criminal Court.
The authorities later discovered an abandoned car and released surveillance video footage captured from photos taken at the scene. Police stated that two men exited a white Mercedes-Benz and fired shots into Cookies Homemade Makeda’s, a home near the neighborhood of Castalia where the rapper spent his childhood. The daylight killing in broad daylight shocked and stunned the entertainment world in Memphis. The man charged with the slaying of Young Dolph, whose real name was Adolph Thornton Jr., Is Govan, the third individual to be charged in November 17, 2021.
Scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 20 are Justin Johnson and Cornelius Smith Jr., Both of whom have entered pleas of not guilty to charges of first-degree murder and other offenses in relation to the shooting. They are currently being held in jail without bond.
The investigation is still ongoing. The suspected motive has not been disclosed, and there has been no public statement to support the evidence. However, according to Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy in a weekly newsletter, Govan “solicited the murder and set it in motion.”
“Following the hearing on Thursday,” prosecutor Paul Hagerman informed journalists, “we are obligated to limit our discussion to what has been disclosed publicly. In accordance with ethical guidelines and legal obligations, even if we possessed this information, we would be unable to disclose it. I understand that you are seeking answers to certain enigmas and seeking concrete information and specifics.”
The trial for Govan’s case may be delayed until next year because of the extensive amount of evidence, according to Bill Massey, Govan’s lawyer. Massey stated that he is currently requesting the prosecution’s evidence for the case.
Brought up in the Castalia Heights community, Young Dolph financially assisted individuals by paying their rent and funeral expenses. Additionally, he generously contributed thousands of dollars to schools and arranged events to distribute Thanksgiving turkeys. Young Dolph gained admiration in Memphis for his philanthropic endeavors, while also gaining recognition for his portrayals of the challenging realities of street life and his autonomous approach to the music industry.
The owner and producer of the independent “Paper Route Empire” label, who also works as a rapper, took him away from Memphis, but before that, his father had returned to the city after a visit to his sick relative and organized a turkey giveaway.
After the death of Dolph, the section of the street near his childhood home was renamed in his honor. He was also honored during a public celebration at the FedExForum, the home of the Memphis Grizzlies NBA team and the University of Memphis men’s basketball team. Additionally, a private funeral was held for him.
Multiple individuals lost their lives. A trio of individuals perished. The gentleman embarked on a shooting spree. He broadcasted a portion of it live. The shooting rampage extended throughout the entire day. The man met his demise. A teacher was forcefully taken and shot. The teacher was abducted while out for a morning jog. The teacher was employed at an elementary school. A clergy member was wounded by gunfire. The pastor sustained a gunshot wound during a car theft. The car theft occurred in the pastor’s driveway. The pastor was affiliated with a United Methodist Church. Memphis has experienced other high-profile homicides. The killings transpired subsequent to the rapper’s demise. The rapper’s death was regarded as a symbol of firearm violence. City officials and community advocates highlighted the killing as a representation.
On November 1st, Takeoff, one of the most recent members of the rap group Migos, was shot and killed outside a bowling alley in Houston after a party. Since 2018, there have been several rappers, including Smoke Pop, who have lost their lives to gun violence. Nipsey Hussle, a rapper from Los Angeles, was fatally shot in 2019 and his independent approach to the music business drew comparisons. Young Dolph is one of several prominent hip-hop artists who have been killed in recent years.
In an article dated Tuesday in Atlantic, E-40 and Too Short, the rappers, called for the hip-hop community to come together and find other ways to support each other amidst the spate of gun deaths in the industry.
Dolph Young, born in Chicago and later moved to Memphis with his parents, collaborated with other key rappers such as 2 Chainz, Mane, Gucci T.I., Stallion, Thee Megan Glock, and Key. He released multiple studio albums including his debut “Memphis of King” in 2016, as well as numerous mixtapes starting with “Campaign, Route Paper” in 2008.
Three of his records made it to the top 10 on the Billboard 200, and his album “Rich Slave” from 2020 reached its peak at No. 4.
Makeda’s, the bakery where he was shot, was covered and shut before it reopened in September.