Trial For Jam Master Jay’s Accused Killers Set To Begin More Than 20 Years After His Death
The trial for the two men accused of killing Run-DMC star Jam Master Jay is set to begin Monday. Jay, whose real name is Jason Mizell, was shot and killed in New York City more than 20 years ago.
According to AP, the murder trial of Karl Jordan Jr. and Ronald Washington will begin Monday. Prosecutors will try to prove that Jordan Jr. and Washington killed the 37-year-old Jay over a drug deal in 2002.
When Jam Master Jay was killed in 2002, his death shocked the Hip-Hop world. Shortly after, the group Run-DMC broke up and his case went unsolved for almost 10 years. In 2020, Jordan Jr. and Washington were for his murder. Another man was charged in 2023 and will be tried separately.
According to reports, prosecutors believe that in the mid-1990s, Jam Master Jay became involved in trafficking cocaine. Before he was killed, Jay allegedly acquired 10 kilograms (22 pounds) of cocaine, which Washington, Jordan, and others were going to distribute in Maryland.
Washington then got into a fight with one of the persons involved in the drug plot, which Jay got wind of and cut Washington out of the deal.
On the evening of Oct. 30, 2002, Washington and Jordan showed up at Jay’s studio armed and ready to confront him over the drug deal, prosecutors allege.
Washing is accused of waving a gun and ordering someone in the studio to lie on the floor and Jordan is accused of shooting Jam Master Jay in the head.
After Jay’s death, $60,000 in rewards were offered for information, but witnesses reluctantly came forward, which forced the case to go cold. Prosecutors say witnesses have finally come forward and have identified both Washington and Jordan as the men who killed Jam Master Jay.
In 2007, while on trial for a string of armed robberies, Washington was first named as a possible suspect in the murder of Jay. Washington was also quoted several years later saying he was on his way to the studio the night of the murder when he heard gunshots and saw Jordan fleeing.
Jordan’s lawyers claim he was at his pregnant girlfriend’s home at the time of the murder and witnesses can place him there. Jordan also faces gun and cocaine charges.
