DJ Jam Master Jay of Run-DMC was reportedly shot by his godson following a dispute over a drug deal, as revealed in court during the trial of two men accused of his murder over two decades ago.
Two men go on trial accused of murdering Dun-DMC DJ Jam Master Jay more than two decades ago.
Karl Jordan Jr., aged 40, and another individual, Ronald Washington, aged 59, are currently standing trial in New York, facing charges of murder.
During the opening statements presented on Monday, prosecutors alleged that the duo committed an act of “execution” driven by both greed and revenge.
Contrarily, the defense attorneys addressed the jury, asserting that their clients were not responsible for the death of the esteemed DJ.
Jam Master Jay, whose real name was Jason Mizell, was 37 years old when he was fatally shot in the head at his recording studio located in Queens, New York, in October 2002.
Mizell constituted one third of the renowned hip-hop group Run-DMC, recognized for their influential tracks throughout the 1980s such as “It’s Tricky,” “It’s Like That,” and their collaboration with Aerosmith, “Walk This Way.”
Despite participating in a “Just Say No” public service announcement in 1988, they criticized drug culture. However, prosecutors alleged that Mizell became entangled as a middleman in cocaine transactions to maintain his lifestyle and support associates as the group’s music career waned.
At the time, Mr. Jordan, 18, and Mr. Washington, a friend staying with Mizell’s sister, believed they would profit from a deal worth nearly $200,000 but felt betrayed when excluded. Feeling “left with nothing,” they allegedly conspired to kill him, New York prosecutor Miranda Gonzalez informed the jury, as reported by Reuters.
Another individual, Jay Bryant, will face a separate trial in 2026. He stands accused of facilitating Mr. Jordan and Mr. Washington’s entry into the studio, allowing them access through a locked back fire exit, preceding Mr. Jordan allegedly shooting Mizell with a handgun.
“He would be murdered in his own music studio, by people he knew,” stated Ms. Gonzalez before the court, as reported by AFP.
Defense attorney Ezra Spilke countered the prosecution’s narrative as “just one perspective among many,” emphasizing that the accused duo “remain unaware of the perpetrator’s identity.” He highlighted the absence of forensic evidence linking his client, Mr. Washington, to the murder, attributing the case solely to “fading recollections.”
Describing Mr. Washington as reliant on Mizell for shelter due to his struggles with alcoholism, Spilke questioned the logic of harming one’s benefactor, asking, “Why harm the hand that sustains you? Why extinguish the person you rely on?”
Addressing the jury, Spilke underscored Mizell’s revered status as an artist, cautioning against convicting the wrong individual, which he argued would compound the tragedy rather than resolve it.
John Diaz, representing Mr. Jordan, highlighted the evolving nature of the narrative over time and pointed out that certain prosecution witnesses had collaborated with federal investigators to mitigate their own legal troubles.
The trial’s duration is anticipated to span four weeks.
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