Entertainment
Two men found guilty of Run-DMC rapper Jam Master Jay murder-Josie Copson-Entertainment – Metro
Jam Master Jay of Run-DMC was murdered in 2002 (Picture: Martyn Goodacre/Getty Images)
Run-DMC rapper Jam Master Jay was murdered in 2002, and two men have now been convicted.
The godson and a childhood friend of Jam Master Jay, real name Jason Mizell, targeted him at a recording studio in Queens on 30 October 2002 after allegedly being left out of a drug deal, the trial heard.
Karl Jordan Jr, 40, and Ronald Washington, 59, now face at least 20 years in prison.
Mizell died aged 37 after being shot in the head.
‘It was a brutal crime,’ Assistant US Attorney Miranda Gonzalez said during the opening statements said, via the New York Post. ‘The defendants had killed a world-famous musician in front of people they know.’
Describing Mizell’s death as an ‘ambush’ and an ‘execution’, she added: ‘And you’ll learn that it was motivated by greed and revenge.’
Mizell was part of Run-DMC (Picture: Bob Berg/Getty Images)
According to Reuters, the court heard that his friend, Washington, and Jordan – who was 18 at the time – thought they would be involved in a cocaine shipment worth nearly $200,000, but were eventually shunned from the agreement.
Defense lawyers denied all claims, insisting that they both ‘have no clue who did it’.
It was alleged that a third man, Jay Bryant, went into his New York studio and let Washington and Jordan into the venue through a locked fire exit – where the latter shot Mizell.
Bryant will stand trial separately in 2026.
Mizell joined Run-DMC in 1982 along with Joseph ‘Run’ Simmons and Darryl ‘DMC’ McDaniels.
They enjoyed global success in the 1980s with hits like Walk This Way, Rock Box, It’s Tricky and King of Rock, but eventually disbanded after his death.
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If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
Jam Master Jay of Run-DMC was murdered in 2002 (Picture: Martyn Goodacre/Getty Images)
Run-DMC rapper Jam Master Jay was murdered in 2002, and two men have now been convicted.
The godson and a childhood friend of Jam Master Jay, real name Jason Mizell, targeted him at a recording studio in Queens on 30 October 2002 after allegedly being left out of a drug deal, the trial heard.
Karl Jordan Jr, 40, and Ronald Washington, 59, now face at least 20 years in prison.
Mizell died aged 37 after being shot in the head.
‘It was a brutal crime,’ Assistant US Attorney Miranda Gonzalez said during the opening statements said, via the New York Post. ‘The defendants had killed a world-famous musician in front of people they know.’
Describing Mizell’s death as an ‘ambush’ and an ‘execution’, she added: ‘And you’ll learn that it was motivated by greed and revenge.’
Mizell was part of Run-DMC (Picture: Bob Berg/Getty Images)
According to Reuters, the court heard that his friend, Washington, and Jordan – who was 18 at the time – thought they would be involved in a cocaine shipment worth nearly $200,000, but were eventually shunned from the agreement.
Defense lawyers denied all claims, insisting that they both ‘have no clue who did it’.
It was alleged that a third man, Jay Bryant, went into his New York studio and let Washington and Jordan into the venue through a locked fire exit – where the latter shot Mizell.
Bryant will stand trial separately in 2026.
Mizell joined Run-DMC in 1982 along with Joseph ‘Run’ Simmons and Darryl ‘DMC’ McDaniels.
They enjoyed global success in the 1980s with hits like Walk This Way, Rock Box, It’s Tricky and King of Rock, but eventually disbanded after his death.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
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