Jam Master Jay killing: Two men found guilty of murder of Run-DMC star
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Two men have been found guilty of the murder of Run-DMC star Jam Master Jay.
His godson Karl Jordan Jr and childhood friend Ronald Washington were charged with his killing in 2020 and have now been convicted by a jury in New York.
The 37-year-old victim, whose real name was Jason Mizell, was fatally shot in the head in his recording studio in 2002.
It was one of hip hop’s most infamous killings, along with those of rap icons Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G.
Making his closing arguments, assistant US attorney Artie McConnell told jurors that “twenty years is a long time to wait for justice… don’t let this go on for another minute”.
The DJ was part of Run-DMC, one of the best-known rap acts of the 1980s.
The prosecution had alleged the motive for the killing was a drug deal gone bad. Both men had pleaded not guilty.
A third man, Jay Bryant, was arrested and charged in 2023 and he will be tried separately in 2025 or 2026.
Authorities had publicly named Washington as a suspect in in Mr Mizell’s killing in 2007. He told Playboy magazine in 2003 he’d been outside the studio, heard the shots and saw “Little D” – one of Jordan’s nicknames – racing out of the building.
Two eyewitnesses – former studio aide Uriel Rincon and Lydia High, former business manager for Mr Mizell – testified that Washington blocked the door and ordered Ms High to lie on the floor. She said he brandished a gun.
Mr Rincon said that Jordan had approached the rapper and was exchanging a friendly greeting just before shots were fired. He testified that he was hit by one bullet.
Three other people, including a teenage singer who had stopped by the studio to tout her demo tape to staff, also testified that they were in an adjoining room and heard the incident. They didn’t see what happened.
Reverend Run, Jam Master Jay and Darryl McDaniels in 1987. Pic: AP
Run-DMC, who stood against drugs in their song lyrics, was made up of Mr Mizell, Joe “Run” Simmons and Darryl “DMC” McDaniels.
Their hits include King Of Rock, It’s Tricky and a reworking of Aerosmith’s Walk This Way.
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