Memphis rapper Yo Gotti's older brother, Anthony “Big Jock” Mims, was shot and killed Saturday afternoon. He was attending a funeral service in the 6300 block of Winchester Road. Jock was mortally wounded outside the Perignons Events Center and Restaurant. He was declared dead after being transferred to St. Francis Hospital.
According to Jook's Instagram Stories posted before the tragedy, he was in the area to honor his late uncle Eric as a legendary leader. Jock was wearing a black suit when he joined other family members at the funeral service.
After the shooting, a heavy police presence was seen in the parking lot of Perignon Restaurant and outside St. Francis Hospital. The hospital has reportedly been placed under lockdown.
Memphis police said the incident was captured on video. Deputy Police Chief Paul Wright said at a news conference that they believe Jock may have been the suspect's target. Another victim also suffered serious injuries and was airlifted to OneHealth Regional Hospital from St. Francis Hospital.
Big Jock's death and his relationship with Hernandez Govan
Yo Gotti's older brother primarily ran his music label, Collective Music Group (CMG). However, Gotti has remained surprisingly silent since Big Jock's death.
The police have not yet revealed any information about the suspect or suspects in Jock's murder. But Yo Gotti's silence about the incident has sparked speculation on social media that it is linked to the murder of rapper Young Dolph in 2021. Many have linked the historical feud between Dolph and Gotti and said Jock's killing may have been retaliation for Dolph's killing.
The area where Big Jock was dropped is located in the same building as his brother's Memphis restaurant. The place is also close to where Young Dolph was killed. Cornelius Smith and Justin Johnson were charged with Dolph's murder while the third man, Hernandez Govan, was charged with being the person who hired the two. He was facing a charge of first-degree murder, a charge of attempted first-degree murder, and a conspiracy to commit murder charge.
Apart from them, three other men have also been arrested in connection with Young Dolph's murder. 24-year-old Justin Johnson and 32-year-old Cornelius Smith were accused of pulling the trigger on Dolph while another man, JeMarcus Johnson, was charged with diverting a reward for the shooting and helping the suspect hide.
At the time, word circulated online that Big Jook had been spotted with Govan, the apparent mastermind behind Dolph's death. Blogger Vada Fly posted a speculative tweet on it as well.
In September 2022, Hernandez Govan's daughter, Lotta Cash Desto, also a rapper, was murdered. It is also believed that her death was an act of revenge for Young Dolph's murder.
However, none of these speculations have been confirmed yet.
