Two men have been indicted and charged in the 2002 fatal shooting of Run DMC‘s Jam Master Jay.

On Monday, federal prosecutors in Brooklyn, along with the NYPD, held a press conference to announce that Karl Jordan and Ronald Washington have been charged with Jay’s murder in an alleged drug-related homicide.

According to an indictment unsealed in the Eastern District of New York, the two have also been charged with “the intentional use of a firearm,” along with other drug offenses, including intent to distribute cocaine.

Washington is currently imprisoned on a prior robbery case. Jordan is eligible for the death penalty and has entered a non-guilty plea to the ten-count indictment, courtesy of his defense attorney Michael Hueston. 

“Primarily, this is a case about a murder that for nearly two decades had gone unanswered,” said acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Seth DuCharme. “We don’t give up on these cases.”

“It was important to us then and remains important to us now to bring justice for the victim.”

Born Jason Mizell, the 37-year-old rap pioneer was shot in the head at point-blank range at his recording studio in Hollis, Queens, October 30, 2002. He was shot with a .40-caliber handgun by a masked assailant. 

Jay was a member of the iconic hip-hop group Run-DMC, who scored hits like “It’s Tricky,” the Aerosmith collaboration “Walk This Way,” “My Adidas,” and the 1983 debut single, “It’s Like That”, regarded as one of the greatest hip-hop songs by VH1.

Since his death, Jay’s studio has been transformed into the Hall of Fame studio, which maintains his legacy with painted murals and walls decorated with Run-DMC memorabilia. 

His legacy his also fueled by his son, TJ Mizell, who currently acts as Run-DMC’s official DJ. 

By Rachel George
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