After 22 years two men have been convicted in the murder of hip hop legend Jason Mizell, aka Jam Master Jay. An anonymous Brooklyn federal jury delivered the verdict in the trial of Karl Jordan Jr. and Ronald Washington on Tuesday, February 27.
The Run-DMC star, DJ and pioneer was shot outside of his recording studio in Jamaica, Queens on October 30, 2022 in what has been deemed retaliation for a drug deal gone wrong.
A 10-count indictment unsealed in October 2020, revealed the motive behind the murder to be 10 Kilograms of cocaine purchased by Jam Master Jay. With the plan to distribute the drugs between Washington, Jordan Jr. and other co-conspirators having gone awry. In light, Washington and Jordan Jr. sought revenge, slaying the hip hop legend in front of witnesses, according to prosecutors.
“He was a man who got involved in the drug game to take care of the people who depended on him,” assistant U.S. attorney Artie McConnell said in his summation.
The men’s names have long floated in connection to the case. After all, Jordan Jr. and Jam Master Jay were neighbors in the Hollis neighborhood of Queens. Meanwhile Washington — known as “Lil D”– is his godson and son to former Run-DMC road manager “Big D.” Neither Jordan Jr. nor Washington testified.
Jam Master Jay’s Legacy
Jam Master Jay remains an integral figure in hip hop history. Moreover, along with Joseph Simmons and Daryl McDaniels, the trio broke barriers for hip hop. In fact, Mizell had been part of Run-DMC’s anti-drug message. In light of hip hop’s increasingly provocative agenda the trio spread positive messages including lyrics such as “we are not thugs / we don’t use drugs.” However, according to prosecutors and trial testimony, he racked up debts after the group’s heyday. Thus, the celebrated DJ moonlighted as a cocaine middleman to cover his bills and habitual generosity to friends.
All in all, this brings and end to a case that’s been open for nearly 22 years. When the case ran dry rap royalty put together reward money in hopes of finding closure.
“Twenty years is a long time to wait for justice,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Artie McConnell had told jurors in a closing argument, urging them: “Don’t let this go on for another minute.”
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