Jam Master Jay’s murder shocked the music world in 2002
Karl Jordan Jr, 40, and Ronald Washington, 59, have been convicted of the murder of Run–DMC star Jam Master Jay, whose real name was Jason Mizell. The hip-hop pioneer was shot in the head at his recording studio in Queens on October 30, 2002. Jordan and Washington, Mizell’s godson and childhood friend, were found guilty of targeting the musician after being excluded from a drug deal. The trial revealed that the motive behind the murder was revenge and greed. Both defendants face 20 years to life in prison.
Run-DMC, consisting of Jam Master Jay, Joseph Simmons, and Darryl McDaniels, became one of the most influential hip-hop acts of the 1980s. Despite their public stance against drug use, Mizell turned to cocaine trafficking as the group’s popularity waned in the 1990s. Prosecutors argued that the convicted individuals believed they would be part of a nearly $200,000 drug deal and became angered when excluded.
During the trial, the defense challenged the accuracy of eyewitness testimony given the passage of time. However, prosecutors presented forensic evidence and dozens of witnesses, describing the killing as an “execution” motivated by greed and revenge. The murder remained unsolved for years until federal prosecutors charged Jordan and Washington in 2020.
Two key eyewitnesses initially denied identifying the killers but later changed their stories after the case was reopened in 2016. The witnesses, Uriel “Tony” Rincon and Lydia High testified that Jordan walked into the room, shook hands with Mizell, and then began shooting. They admitted fear had prevented them from cooperating with law enforcement earlier. Additional witnesses claimed that Jordan bragged about carrying out the killing.
Another individual, Jay Bryant, is expected to face a separate trial related to the case, accused of allowing Jordan and Washington through the back door of the studio where Mizell was murdered. The trial brings closure to a long-standing mystery surrounding the murder of the Run-DMC star.
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