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Associated Press
a few seconds ago
- Associated Press
Jury begins deliberating in trial of Memphis man charged with organizing Young Dolph's killing
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — A jury began deliberating Wednesday in the trial of a man charged with organizing the daytime ambush killing of rapper Young Dolph at a Memphis bakery in November 2021. The trial of Hernandez Govan, 45, began Monday in a Memphis courtroom. Govan is charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and first-degree murder. He is not accused of shooting Young Dolph, but prosecutors claim he directed the two people who did and was criminally responsible for the commission of premeditated murder. The 12-person jury began deliberating at about 5:15 p.m., after prosecutors and a defense attorney delivered closing arguments. Young Dolph — a rapper, independent label owner and producer whose legal name was Adolph Thornton Jr. — grew up in Memphis and was admired in the city for his charitable works. The 36-year-old was in his hometown to hand out Thanksgiving turkeys to families when his visit to his favorite cookie shop turned into an attack that shocked the entertainment world. Authorities said two men exited a white Mercedes-Benz and began shooting at the rapper at the bakery on Nov. 17, 2021. He died after being shot about 20 times, according to a medical examiner's report. Testifying against Govan was Cornelius Smith Jr., who has admitted to being one of the two shooters who ambushed Young Dolph. Smith previously was the main trial witness against Justin Johnson, who was convicted of first-degree murder in 2024 after Smith named him as the second shooter. Memphis prosecutors have portrayed the killing as part an effort by Anthony 'Big Jook' Mims to get revenge on Young Dolph for diss tracks aimed at Big Jook and the record label he helped run for his brother, rapper Yo Gotti. Smith has testified that Big Jook put out a $100,000 hit on Young Dolph as well as smaller bounties on all the artists at Young Dolph's record label, Paper Route Empire. At the earlier trial of Justin Johnson, a prosecutor told jurors that Cocaine Muzik Group (now known as Collective Music Group), a rival record label founded by Yo Gotti, wanted Young Dolph to work for them, but he turned them down. Big Jook was shot and killed outside a restaurant in January 2024. Prosecutors argued Govan was the middle man between Big Jook and the two shooters. Smith testified on Monday that 'I didn't know anything about Paper Route having no hits,' before Govan told him about them. He said Govan hired him to 'do the hits,' and was going to take $10,000 as his cut. Govan was also the person who told him and Johnson that Young Dolph would be in Memphis for the Thanksgiving turkey giveaway, so 'that's our opportunity,' Smith said. Prosecutors introduced as evidence cellphone communications involving Johnson, Smith, Govan and Big Jook ahead of the shooting. Meanwhile, Govan's defense attorney, Manny Arora, tried to paint Smith as an unreliable witness and a 'pathological liar' who would say anything to try to get a lighter sentence. He also questioned the validity of the cellphone communications, saying none directly incriminated Govan. Arora pointed to previous testimony where Smith recalled a chance encounter with Big Jook. At the time, Smith implied that Big Jook was the person who hired him. After Smith was arrested, his attorney called Big Jook's attorney and received somewhere between $38,000 and $50,000 in cash. Smith said on Monday that he did not know who had supplied the money. Smith also testified that he previously heard that Govan might be working with the FBI. Arora asked why Smith would take a job from Govan if that were the case. Smith said that Govan was 'innocent until proven guilty.' Govan did not testify in his defense. A trial date has not been set for Smith. Johnson was sentenced to life in prison in September 2024. He was later sentenced to 35 additional years in prison for two other convictions from the trial: conspiracy to commit murder and possessing a gun as a felon. Young Dolph began his career by releasing numerous mixtapes. His studio albums include his 2016 debut, 'King of Memphis.' He also collaborated on other mixtapes and albums with fellow rappers Key Glock, Megan Thee Stallion, T.I., Gucci Mane, 2 Chainz and others. Young Dolph had three albums reach the top 10 on the Billboard 200, with 2020′s 'Rich Slave' peaking at No. 4.
Yahoo
28 minutes ago
- Yahoo
'American Idol 'Murder Suspect Allegedly Suicidal As Arraignment is Delayed by Judge: 'He's Staring Into Space' (Exclusive)
Music supervisor Robin Kaye and her husband, Thomas Deluca, were allegedly killed by a 22-year-old Boodarian on July 10 NEED TO KNOW American Idol music supervisor Robin Kaye and her husband, Thomas Deluca, were found dead from gunshot wounds in their Encino home on July 14. On July 17, 22-year-old Raymond Boodarian was charged in the murders. His arraignment hearing on August 20 was transferred to a mental health court next month Murder suspect Raymond Boodarian, who is accused of fatally shooting longtime American Idol music supervisor Robin Kaye and her rock guitarist husband Thomas Deluca, both 70, at their sprawling $4.5 million Encino property on July 10, appeared in court Wednesday, August 20. Boodarian, 22, wearing a suicide gown and sporting a black mustache, glanced through a caged window toward the gallery, appearing dazed and confused — according to footage shown to PEOPLE — and was referred to mental health court for evaluation. He did not enter a plea during the 13-minute arraignment hearing in Van Nuys, California. When Judge Martin L. Herscovitz attempted to address Boodarian multiple times from behind a locked door, he received no response. "Mr. Boodarian, can you hear me? Mr. Boodarian?" Judge Herscovitz asked. 'He does have severe mental health issues. He's appearing today in a suicide gown,' his public defender, Nancy Kolocotronis, told the court at the beginning of the hearing around 9:30 a.m. She explained that it has not yet been determined what his mental health issues are, but that he is allegedly suicidal. After the judge's attempts to get Boodarian's attention failed, he conferred with both lawyers in a sidebar before trying again. 'One more time. Mr. Boodarian? Mr. Boodarian, can you hear me?' the judge inquired. 'Let the record reflect he's still staring out into space and not responding to the court's questions.' Soon after, the judge suspended the arraignment and ordered him to appear in mental health court instead on Sept. 3 in Hollywood. He's still being held without bail. The judge said any arraignment on Boodarian's murder charges would have to wait until he's deemed mentally fit and acknowledged he didn't believe it was "fair" to continue without the suspect's involvement. Family members and friends of Kaye and her husband, Thomas Deluca, sat in the back of the courtroom. Boodarian's father, who also attended the hearing, appeared emotionless. Back on July 10, on a golden morning in Los Angeles, Kaye and Deluca began their day like any other. They chatted over lattes in the airy kitchen of their residence and fed their beloved pets, claimed longtime friend and bandmate Ronnie Brooks, 73, who recalled how the couple's pet African gray parrot Bogey often chirped, 'Mommy's home' when Kaye walked through the door. Later that afternoon, Kaye met with a family member to get smoothies around 11 a.m., according to a source close to the family. After she went on a grocery run with her husband to their local market, the couple returned to their hillside sanctuary — unaware that the house had been breached. Police say the front door had been left unlocked, the alarm disabled. Inside, according to a new police affidavit obtained by Rolling Stone, a stranger with a baseball cap, gray shirt and black sandals was waiting. Within the hour, both were dead, shot multiple times in the head, execution-style, with a gun that allegedly belonged to them, according to police and the district attorney. Boodarian, was arrested five days later outside his rented townhouse in Reseda while shirtless on July 15. Two days later, he was charged with two counts of murder and one count of residential burglary on July 17. But the horror didn't end there. 'Robin went to change the laundry, and that's when Boodarian shot her,' claims the family source exclusively to PEOPLE. 'Tom [allegedly] heard the gunfire and ran to confront him, but was shot outside multiple times. Boodarian then [allegedly] dragged Tom's body back into the house and shot Robin again.' Afterward, according to the source, Boodarian only stole one thing from the home. 'He [allegedly] didn't steal anything else. The rest of their jewelry is still in the safe, which the family opened on Friday, Aug. 1. Robin's wedding ring was also found not on her finger, but on the ground, but he didn't take it. All [allegedly] Boodarian took was their gun." Yet despite two 911 calls and multiple police visits that day, it wasn't until four days later, on July 14, that authorities discovered the couple's bodies, following a welfare check requested by a friend of Kaye's. According to the same source, a family member provided the secured gate code to help officers access the property and launch an investigation. In the days that followed, more details began to emerge. The Los Angeles Medical Examiner told PEOPLE their time of death was recorded at 4:14 p.m. that day. Another source tells PEOPLE that the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner does not determine the exact date and time of death. Instead, the report will include the time and date death was pronounced for the couple when it's released to the public. Already reeling from the loss of the popular couple, neighbors in their affluent community — which has seen an uptick in crime recently — demanded answers. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced the couple was shot with their own gun. The details of the killings were revealed during a town hall meeting in Encino on July 21, where hundreds of residents gathered to express frustration about crime in the area. Speaking to the crowd on Monday night, Hochman said the couple's killings felt personal to him as a lifelong Angeleno. 'The government owes you one thing, and that's safety,' he said. He emphasized that Kaye and Deluca were denied that basic promise — and that the system failed them. 'The brutal and heartbreaking murder of Robin Kaye and Thomas Deluca has shaken their Encino community," Hochman told PEOPLE exclusively on July 24. "My heart goes out to the victims' loved ones as they endure an unimaginable loss. 'I am steadfast in my commitment to keep our communities safe and hold those who commit violent offenses accountable for their actions," Hochman continued. "We will prosecute this case to the fullest extent of the law to deliver justice for the victims and their families." Still, tragedy unfolded for Kaye and Deluca four weeks ago, when, at 4:10 p.m., a neighbor called 911 after seeing a man scaling the wall outside the couple's house on July 10. A police helicopter flew over the property but, spotting no signs of trouble, left after two minutes. Some 40 minutes later, a second 911 call was placed, this time from inside the home's office. The caller identified himself as the resident and reported a break-in. Moments later, the operator heard him plead, 'Please don't shoot me' before the line went dead, according to a police affidavit. Authorities later identified the caller as the suspect Boodarian, who had given his real name. Again, a police helicopter scanned the scene but detected nothing and left shortly after 5 p.m. By then, investigators believe Boodarian had used their firearm he found — which, according to a third source they purchased only weeks prior— to fatally shoot Kaye and Deluca in separate rooms of the house. All units arrived shortly before 5:00 p.m., according to dispatcher audio. At that time, Air 16 was called in again to survey the scene from above. However, officers reported that the helicopter did not observe anything suspicious. They cleared the area approximately seven minutes later, at around 5:07 p.m. According to LAPD officials, the home's front door was not visible from the outside during the initial response. The residence was heavily secured, with a locked perimeter and gated entry. "I just hope we get more answers," says the family source. "There's still so many unknowns, especially hearing what's on that 911 calls, when the police actually arrived at the scene and why they didn't initially enter the property despite what seems like serious probable cause. We all want to know the truth." According to a police affidavit obtained by Rolling Stone, the couple were seen on video footage arriving back at the home at 4:43 p.m. Just 10 minutes later, Boodarian was seen leaving the residence 'as he concealed a handgun in his right rear waistband,' the affidavit claims. Boodarian is being held without bail at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in Los Angeles, according to records obtained by PEOPLE. If convicted as charged, Boodarian faces a possible maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole or death. "I want to know Boodarian's mental state the day he was arrested as today doesn't mean anything, even if he is suicidal now," the family source continues. "It only matters Boodarian's mental state when he was committing the crime." Read the original article on People
Yahoo
28 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Bam Bam, the allegedly stolen Chicago support dog, is reunited with his owner after more than 2 months
Owner Angel Santiago lost his sight entirely nearly three years ago. He asked for people to be on the lookout for Bam Bam. The internet is celebrating the reunification of Bam Bam, a 14-year-old dachshund mix, and his owner, Angel Santiago. On June 5, Bam Bam, who is an emotional support dog for the legally blind Santiago, was taken from Santiago's backyard in the Chicago neighborhood of Logan Square, per reporting from Fox 32 Chicago. But now, Bam Bam and Santiago are back together again. Per ABC 7 Chicago, Bam Bam was dropped off at a Chicago police station on Aug. 19 by two individuals. The dog, who is microchipped but was not wearing his collar at the time he was taken, appeared healthy, and was reunited with Santiago. The police said an investigation into the alleged taking of Bam Bam is still ongoing. The Garrido Stray Rescue Foundation posted on its Facebook page about the reunion, writing that police contacted their organization after a man and woman dropped off the dog at a local precinct, where they were able to trace him to Santiago by scanning his microchip. "Thankfully Bam Bam was microchipped and the information was current," the foundation wrote in its Facebook post, urging pet owners to "Please have a vet scan your pup annually when they get their rabies shot to verify your dog is still microchipped and contact the chip company to confirm your information is current." Santiago, who is legally blind due to progressive glaucoma, had let Bam Bam out in the backyard to go to the bathroom when he heard two people enter. Santiago attempted to grab one of the suspects but was unable to hold on to them. Santiago then said he heard Bam Bam barking, but that the sound got softer as the suspects, at least one of whom Santiago believes was a teenager wearing a long-sleeved shirt, fled with the dog. It was unclear to Santiago if the individuals who seemingly took Bam Bam were men or women. Santiago, who also lives with diabetes and became completely blind nearly three years ago, walked up to seven miles a day searching for his beloved dog, with volunteers joining the search. He had also put up posters and stood outside of local grocery store Tony's Fresh Market with Bam Bam's leash and collar in hopes someone would come forward with information about the dog's whereabouts. The internet celebrates Bam Bam's return The internet was devastated to learn of Santiago's story, with many posts calling for Bam Bam's immediate return. Now, people on social media are celebrating, with some calling the story a rare piece of uplifting news. "I'm actually overjoyed," one TikToker wrote in the caption of her video about the development. "We did it," another wrote in her TikTok. "Bam Bam is home!"
