Two Indicted In Jam Master Jay’s Death
• Eighteen years after Run-DMC DJ Jason “Jam Master Jay” Mizell was gunned down in a Queens, NY recording studio, federal prosecutors have finally announced indictments in his 2002 shooting death, which allegedly stemmed from a drug deal gone bad.
The Washington Post reports that Karl Jordan Jr., the alleged triggerman, and Ronald Washington were charged in a federal indictment. According to the detention memo, in July 2002, Mizell had acquired 10 kilograms of cocaine from a supplier in the Midwest, earmarked for distribution in Maryland by Jordan, Washington and other unnamed participants. However, following a dispute, Mizell fired Jordan and Washington as distributors, court documents say. Prosecutors said that is why they killed the hip-hop artist on Oct. 30, 2002, when the suspects allegedly walked into the 24/7 Studio, in the Jamaica neighborhood in Queens, and opened fire. Jordan is accused of shooting Mizell in the head at close range, killing him. Another person at the studio was shot in the leg.
Jordan, 36, was arraigned via video feed and ordered to be detained by a magistrate judge, although his court-appointed attorney may renew a bid for his release on bail. His alleged accomplice, Washington, 56, is already in prison in connection with a 2007 robbery and is expected to be arraigned next week. The pair face up to life in prison on an indictment including murder and cocaine-related conspiracy charges.
Run-DMC, formed by Mizell (left) along with Joseph “Run” Simmons (right) and Darryl “DMC” McDaniel (center), became one of the first hip-hop groups to achieve mainstream success in the ’80s. The trio was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2009. [Photo from rundmc.com]
