The mystery surrounding Jam Master Jay’s murder has come to a close after 22 years.
Karl Jordan Jr and Ronald Washington have been found guilty of all charges after the music icon was gunned down in 2002. It has taken over two decades for his killers to be brought to justice but federal jury reached a verdict on Tuesday (February 27) finally bringing a close to the unsolved murder case.
Jay’s childhood friend Ronald Washington and Karl Jordan Jr, Jay’s godson, pleaded not guilty to all charges of murder while engaged in fire-arm related murder and narcotics trafficking. Jordan also pleaded not guilty to a number of counts of narcotics distribution.
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Jay, whose real name was Jason Mizell, was shot at a recording studio in Jamaica, Queens in New York. Years went by after the murder with no arrests being made and angry fans demanded answers. In August 2020, the US Attorney for the Eastern District unsealed a criminal indictment alleging Washington and Jordan conspired to kill the beloved musician in relation to a drug dispute.
(Image: Unknown)
Jay Bryant, a third defendant, was charged in May 2023 with murder while engaged in narcotics trafficking and firearm-related murder. He also pleaded not guilty and his trial is slated for January 2026. Washington and Jordan Jr’s Defence Lawyers said during their closing arguments that the real killer was Bryant. A hat found at the crime scene contained only Bryant’s DNA and he was the only defendant seen on security cameras, according to lawyers. Michael Hueston, Jordan’s attorney, said at the time: “Jay Bryant is literally reasonable doubt in this case.”
(Image: Getty Images)
This is an attempt to make a mockery of the judicial system. They know who killed Jam Master Jay. They know it was Jay Bryant, said Susan Kellman, Washington’s attorney. “They have no case against anybody except Jay Bryant Addressing the court during their closing arguments, Assistant US Attorney Artie McConnell said: “It’s about greed. It’s about money. It’s about jealousy.”
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
They continued: “And it’s about the actions of two men, Karl Jordan, Jr., and Ronald Washington, that the evidence proves are killers,” CNN reported. Jam Master Jay was a Hip-Hop music legend and the DJ behind the hugely popular group Run-DMC, which also featured Joseph “Run” Simmons and Darryl “D.M.C” McDaniels.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
