Two Men Found Guilty In Murder Of Run-D.M.C. DJ Jam Master Jay
An ongoing murder case in the Hip-Hop world has finally come to an end. On Tuesday (Feb. 27), two men were found guilty of killing Jam Master Jay. The pioneering DJ of the legendary Run-D.M.C. group was slain in 2002.
After reportedly deliberating for about 10 hours, a Brooklyn jury decided two men who were close to Jay were guilty for the crime: Ronald Washington, Jay’s childhood friend, and Karl Jordan Jr., Jay’s godson.
“Y’all just killed some innocent people. Get me outta here,” Washington said in the courtroom per CNN after the verdict. Jordan looked at his supporters and said, “I love y’all.”
American hip hop group Run-DMC (American rapper Joseph ‘Run’ Simmons, American musician and DJ Jason ‘Jam Master Jay’ Mizell (1965-2002), and American rapper Darryl ‘DMC’ McDaniels) attend the 1987 Soul Train Music Awards.
Vinnie Zuffante/Getty Images
The jury’s decision came after a witness who was at the recording studio that night, Uriel Rincon, testified that Washington and Jordan came in armed. He alleged Jordan shot Jay in the head said him being “confused and scared” made him keep the attackers’ identities secret, according toWABC.
“It’s about greed. It’s about money. It’s about jealousy,” Assistant US Attorney Artie McConnell said in the prosecution’s closing arguments. “And it’s about the actions of two men, Karl Jordan, Jr., and Ronald Washington, that the evidence proves are killers.”
However, defense attorneys were adamant that the real killer was a third defendant, Jay Bryant. Bryant was charged in May 2023 with murder while engaged in narcotics trafficking and firearm-related murder. His trial is set for 2026 and he has pleaded not guilty. In closing arguments, the defense attorneys mentioned that a hat found next to Jam Master Jay’s body contained only Bryant’s DNA, and Bryant was the only defendant seen on a security camera.
“Jay Bryant is literally reasonable doubt in this case,” said Michael Hueston, Jordan’s attorney.
