2 Men Found Guilty of Murder of Run-DMC DJ Jam Master Jay
Two men from Hollis, Queens, Karl Jordan Jr. and Ronald Washington, have been convicted of the 2002 murder of Jam Master Jay, DJ for the revolutionary hip-hop group Run-DMC.
Jam Master Jay, whose real name was Jason Mizell, played a crucial role in shaping the sound and culture of hip-hop during the genre's formative years in the 1980s. Mizell's skills as a DJ, along with his contributions to Run-DMC's music, helped propel the group to international fame and solidified their place in music history. Mizell's life was tragically cut short when he was murdered in 2002 at the age of 37.
During the trial, prosecutors detailed how Washington and Jordan were both armed when they entered Mizell’s recording studio in Jamaica, Queens on October 30, 2002. Upon entering, Jordan fired two shots at Mizell at close range. One fatal shot struck Mizell in the head while another hit him in the leg. While the motive behind the murder has remained unclear over the years, testimonies presented during the trial provided clarity regarding the events preceding Mizell’s death.
Prosecutors argued that prior to his murder, Mizell intended to exclude Washington from a lucrative transaction involving the sale of approximately 10 kilograms of cocaine. As a result, prosecutors assert that Washington and Jordan targeted Mizell due to selfish motives and jealousy.
Ralph Mullgrav, a convicted drug dealer who periodically sold cocaine for Mizell, testified that he was not a drug dealer in the traditional sense but had engaged in drug sales to generate extra income.
Jordan and Washington were each charged with one count of murder while engaged in narcotics trafficking and one count of firearm-related murder for the fatal shooting of Mizell.
