“Two Men Convicted of Murder in Jam Master Jay Case After 20 Years”

Two Men Convicted of Murder in Jam Master Jay Case After 20 Years

In a long-awaited moment, two men have been convicted of the murder of Run-D.M.C. star Jam Master Jay, more than 20 years after he was fatally shot in his recording studio. Karl Jordan Jr. and Ronald Washington, who were close to the pioneering DJ, were found guilty by an anonymous Brooklyn federal jury. The murder, which took place in 2002, had remained one of the hip-hop world’s most elusive cases, similar to the unsolved slayings of rap icons Tupac Shakur and the Notorious B.I.G.

The conviction comes after years of no arrests and a struggle to find witnesses willing to cooperate with authorities. Breon Peace, the top federal prosecutor in Brooklyn, acknowledged the difficulties in the case, stating that witnesses were terrified of retaliation if they cooperated with law enforcement. However, their strength and resolve in testifying at the trial were hailed as a triumph of right over wrong and courage over fear.

Karl Jordan Jr., who is Mizell’s godson, and Ronald Washington, an old friend who was staying at the DJ’s sister’s home at the time of the shooting, were both arrested in 2020 and pleaded not guilty. Following the guilty verdict, Washington yelled at jurors, accusing them of killing two innocent people. Jordan’s supporters also expressed their anger, cursing the jury. Defense lawyers requested the judge to set aside the verdict and acquit their clients, claiming that the jury heard testimony about someone else being responsible for the murder.

Relatives of Mizell expressed relief at the verdict but lamented that his mother did not live to see justice served. Carlis Thompson, Mizell’s cousin, described the weight that had been lifted off their shoulders upon hearing the verdict. Mizell had been part of Run-D.M.C.’s anti-drug message, but prosecutors revealed that he had accumulated debts after the group’s heyday and had become involved in the drug trade as a middleman to cover his financial obligations and support his friends.

According to prosecution witnesses, Mizell had planned to acquire 10 kilograms of cocaine and sell it through Jordan, Washington, and a Baltimore-based dealer. However, the Baltimore connection refused to work with Washington, leading to a motive for revenge, greed, and jealousy. Two eyewitnesses testified that Washington blocked the door during the shooting and ordered another witness to lie on the floor at gunpoint. Another witness identified Jordan as the man who approached Mizell before shots were fired. Additional witnesses testified that Washington and Jordan made incriminating statements about the murder after it occurred.

The trial shed limited light on a third defendant, Jay Bryant, who was charged separately after his DNA was found on a hat at the crime scene. Prosecutors claim that Bryant allowed Washington and Jordan into the studio building through a fire door in the back. Bryant has pleaded not guilty and will face a separate trial. Although Bryant’s involvement remains unclear, prosecutors do not consider him the killer.

The verdict comes just before the 40th anniversary of Run-D.M.C.’s debut album, which included a track titled “Jam Master Jay.” Despite the revelations about Mizell’s involvement in the drug trade, media professor J. Christopher Hamilton argues that his achievements should still be celebrated. Hamilton believes that successful rappers of the ’80s and ’90s had to navigate the street culture and gain acceptance from underworld figures.

The conviction of Karl Jordan Jr. and Ronald Washington brings closure to a decades-long investigation into the murder of Jam Master Jay. While the case may complicate Mizell’s image, his contributions to hip-hop should not be overshadowed. The verdict serves as a reminder that justice can prevail even after years of waiting, and it allows Mizell’s family and friends to begin the healing process.