Two men accused of murdering Run-DMC star Jam Master Jay are scheduled to stand trial in Brooklyn federal court on Monday, over two decades after the renowned DJ was shot in his New York City recording studio.
Karl Jordan Jr. and Ronald Washington face charges in connection with the 2002 killing, with prosecutors asserting that the murder was related to a drug deal. Both defendants have entered pleas of not guilty.
Jay’s murder trial marks the culmination of a cold case that remained unsolved for years. The trial began with jury selection on Jan. 22, bringing renewed attention to the life, death, and investigation into the killing of the pioneering DJ.
Jay, whose birth name was Jason Mizell, was a pivotal figure in the hip-hop scene, working alongside rappers Joe “Run” Simmons and Darryl “DMC” McDaniels in the group Run-DMC. The trio played a significant role in bringing hip-hop into the mainstream during the 1980s with hits like “It’s Tricky” and a rendition of Aerosmith’s “Walk This Way.” The trio was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009.
The murder of Jay had a profound impact on the hip-hop community, contributing to the disbanding of Run-DMC. The case remained unsolved for many years until the arrests of Mr. Jordan and Mr. Washington in 2020. A third individual was charged in the shooting last year and is set to face a separate trial.
Despite Run-DMC’s public anti-drug stance, prosecutors allege that Jay became involved in cocaine trafficking in the mid-1990s. The motive behind his murder, as per prosecutors, was a drug dispute. They claim that Jay had obtained 10 kilograms of cocaine before the shooting, intending to distribute it in Maryland. However, a disagreement between Mr. Washington and another party led Jay to exclude Mr. Washington from the deal. Both men are from the same neighborhood in Queens as Jay.
On the eve of Oct. 30, 2002, prosecutors allege that Mr. Washington and Mr. Jordan, armed with firearms, confronted Jay at his recording studio in Jamaica, Queens. Mr. Washington is accused of brandishing a gun and ordering one person to the floor, while Mr. Jordan allegedly shot Jay in the head. Prosecutors allege Mr. Jordan fired one shot at Jay at close range, hitting him in the head and killing him, and firing another shot at the man whom they ordered to lie down, hitting him in the leg.
The case initially went cold, with witnesses unwilling to provide information despite significant rewards offered for leads. However, prosecutors now assert that witnesses have identified both Mr. Washington, 59, and Mr. Jordan, 40, as the perpetrators. They also claim that Mr. Washington has made statements corroborating his involvement with law enforcement and others.
Mr. Jordan’s defense contends that he, then 18, was at his pregnant girlfriend’s home at the time of the murder, supported by witness testimony. Additionally, they highlight his familial connection to Jay, describing Mr. Jordan’s father as a “lifelong friend” of the late DJ.
In addition to murder charges, Mr. Jordan is also facing gun and cocaine charges. Prosecutors allege that he continued to be involved in narcotics trafficking, presenting footage of him selling cocaine to an undercover agent. If convicted, both men could face at least 20 years in prison, with the government confirming it will not seek the death penalty.
