Two Men Found Guilty for 2002 Killing of Run-DMC’s Jam Master Jay

             Getty/PIX11News

     Over two decades following the passing of Jam Master Jay, a key member of the iconic hip-hop group Run-DMC, a jury has rendered a guilty verdict against two individuals for his murder.This verdict marks the end of a mystery that puzzled authorities and deeply affected the rap community for over two decades.

     The verdict against Ronald Washington and Karl Jordan Jr. was delivered on Tuesday, with both facing a sentence ranging from a minimum of 20 years to the possibility of life imprisonment for the murder of Jam Master Jay, whose real name was Jason Mizell, as stated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York. Mizell, who was 37 at the time of his death, gained fame as the DJ for Run-DMC, alongside rappers Joseph “Run” Simmons and Darryl “DMC” McDaniels. The group, hailed as one of hip-hop’s pioneering mainstream acts, produced classic tracks like “It’s Like That” in 1984 and “It’s Tricky” in 1986.

    Jordan, who was also the godson of Mizell, was identified as the shooter who delivered the lethal shot to Mizell’s head in 2002. According to federal prosecutors, he and Washington, a close associate of Mizell, committed the murder driven by vengeance after being excluded from a profitable drug transaction.

Getty Images

     In addition to his music career, Mizell was involved in drug trafficking, and in August 2002, he took on 10 kilograms of cocaine on consignment to distribute in Maryland, as stated by prosecutors. Ronald Washington and Karl Jordan Jr. were initially part of this transaction, valued at nearly $200,000. However, following a dispute with another individual involved, Mizell decided to exclude Washington and Jordan from the arrangement, according to prosecutors.This exclusion led to a retaliatory attack on the evening of October 30, 2002. Washington and Jordan accessed Mizell’s recording studio in Jamaica, Queens, New YorkCity, through a rear fire escape, which a third accomplice, facing trial separately in January 2026, had unlocked for them.

     Upon their entry, Mizell, who was playing video games and going over business documents alongside his business manager, welcomed the duo. In a tragic turn of events, Jordan fatally shot Mizell twice in the head, resulting in his immediate death at the scene, as reported by the district attorney’s office. During the incident, a friend of Mizell suffered a leg injury from a gunshot, and his business manager faced a harrowing moment with a gun aimed at her as she attempted to flee.

   Throughout the four-week trial, witness testimonies revealed that both Washington and Jordan had openly confessed to and even boasted about their roles in Mizell’s murder. A testimony from a tenant living in a property owned by Jordan’s father disclosed that she heard Jordan express a chilling sentiment, stating he would murder Mizell again if given the chance. Additionally, a former girlfriend of Washington recounted his admission of guilt to her shortly after the crime took place.