Jam Master Jay.Photo: Martyn Goodacre/Getty Images
A verdict has been reached in theJam Master Jaymurder trial.
Both of the defendants — Mizell’s godson, Karl Jordan Jr., and his childhood friend, Ronald Washington — pleaded not guilty in the case, which prosecutors described as a drug deal gone bad.
The Associated Pressreports that outbursts erupted in the court room after the jury announced their decision, with Jordan’s supporters shouting and Washington telling the jurors, “Y’all just killed two innocent people.”
Jordan and Washington face at least 20 years in prison, with their sentencing to be decided at a later date, perRolling Stone.
Jam Master Jay.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Neither defendant testified during the trial and jurors reached their decision nearly a week after the prosecution and defense teams made their closing arguments. The AP reports that the defense questioned the witness' memory in their final remarks, while the prosecution emphasized the elements of greed and vengeance in the case.
“20 years is a long time to wait for justice,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Artie McConnell reportedly said. “Don’t let this go on for another minute.”
The verdict was reached nearly four years after the defendants were arrested in August 2020 when federal prosecutors accused them of plotting to kill theRun-DMCmember after he removed Washington from a drug deal.
Thetrial began earlier this year in January, over two decades after the hip-hop icon’s death at age 37 when he was shot in the head while playing video games in his studio in Queens.
Darryl “DMC” McDaniels, Jason “Jam Master Jay” Mizell and Joseph “Run” Simmons of Run DMC.Bob Berg/Getty Images
Bob Berg/Getty Images
According toThe New York Times, despite still working in music at the time of his death, the prosecution explained during the trial that the DJ became involved as a drug middleman because “the money wasn’t coming in” and “people still depended on him.”
During the October 2002 incident, Washington allegedly ordered one person in the studio to lie on the floor and Jordan instantly killed Mizell, per AP.
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Rincon reportedly identified both defendants, while High was able to identify Washington and said his assailant had a tattoo that resembled Jordan’s. According toRolling Stone, when the defense asked during the cross-examination why they never previously shared their identities with investigators, they both admitted to being afraid at the time.
Joseph “Run” Simmons, Darryl “DMC” McDaniels and Jason “Jam Master Jay” Mizell of Run DMC.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty
Michael Ochs Archives/Getty
Athird man, Jay Bryant, was also arrestedas an alleged accomplice in May 2023. He will be tried separately and has also pleaded not guilty.
Washington previously served jail time for crimes of armed robbery and heroin distribution. Meanwhile, Jordan — who was 18 when Mizell was killed — did not have a criminal record at the time of his 2020 arrest. However, prosecutors allege that Jordan had a role in the drug trade for years, and as a result, Jordan was charged with additional narcotics distribution counts in 2020.
Jam Master Jay has been credited, along with Run-DMC, as one of the pioneer’s of hip-hop and one of the first acts within the genre to break into the mainstream in the ’80s.
The “It’s Tricky” group disbanded following the turntable legend’s death.
source: people.com
