Jam Master Jay murder trial: Witnesses detail Run-DMC legend's 2002 killing fueled by greed
Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.
BROOKLYN, NEW YORK: Witnesses in the Brooklyn Federal Court have begun to recount the final moments of Run-DMC's Jam Master Jay, 37, who was killed before their eyes, shedding light on the motives behind the hip-hop icon's murder on October 30, 2002.
As the trial unfolded, Assistant US Attorney Miranda Gonzalez disclosed key witnesses, Lydia High (Jam Master Jay's manager) and Uriel "Tony" Rincon (close friend), provided testimonies regarding the incident.
Timeline of Jam Master Jay's shooting
Rincon, who was shot in the leg inches away from the slain DJ, born as Jason Mizell, in his Queens studio in 2002, had initially refrained from identifying the killer saying he never saw the perpetrator's face, but came forward in 2016, implicating Karl Jordan Jr as the one who fired the shot.
The accused, Jordan, 40, and Ronald Washington, 59, face charges of murder connected to a narcotics trafficking conspiracy, alongside Jay Bryant, who awaits a separate trial in 2026.
The prosecution's narrative delves into the intertwining relationships between Mizell, Jordan (his godson), and Washington (his childhood friend).
It is revealed that Mizell's alleged involvement in the drug trade strained these connections. “As the spotlight on Run-DMC began to fade, the money wasn’t coming in to Jason Mizell as it once was, so he turned to drugs to make money,” Gonzalez said, adding that Mizell cut Washington and Jordan out of a lucrative $200,000 narcotics deal.
“Jordan and Washington were left with nothing,” Daily News reported. On that night, Bryant allegedly facilitated the entry of Jordan and Washington into Mizell's studio. The assailants, armed with firearms, confronted Mizell, who had a .380-caliber handgun nearby and was playing video games with Rincon.
“Jason stood up and Jordan greeted him, then pulled out his .40-caliber gun,” Gonzalez said. The shooting resulted in a shot to the head for Mizell and a leg injury for Rincon. Lydia, the manager, was ordered to the ground during the incident.
Prosecutors, aiming to establish a clear motive, presented jurors with crime scene photos showcasing the body of Mizell, in his Queens studio. Assistant US Attorney Miranda Gonzalez emphasized the incident as "an ambush, an execution, and you’ll learn that it was motivated by greed and by revenge.”
Jam Master Jay murder suspects admit intent to kill him again
However, Lydia, initially reluctant to come forward, eventually testified to a grand jury in 2005 and 2006, although no indictments followed at the time.
The prosecution contends that both Jordan and Washington later boasted about the killing, with Washington allegedly expressing a desire to kill Mizell again if given the chance.
In defense, attorneys for Jordan and Washington, led by Ezra Spilke, argue that the case relies on memories and rumors from over two decades ago. “This whole case revolves around 10 seconds 21 years ago, a blink of an eye, a generation ago,” Spilke said. “[Prosecutors] don’t know who killed Jason Mizell. They have no clue who did it. For years, the police could not figure out who did it.”
He said, “These folks pulled a rumor here, and a version of events there, and took a piece of taping glue and stuck it together.” Regarding the witnesses, “We’re not saying they’re all a bunch of liars. We’re not saying that. But common sense tells you that memories can fade.”
