Who Killed Jam Master Jay? 2 Charged For Run-DMC Member's 2002 Murder

Hip-hop artist Jam Master Jay was killed in 2002, and it seems like justice might be served 18 years later. Two men were charged in connection to the Run-DMC member’s murder on Monday.

Ronald Washington and Karl Jordan Jr. were indicted on charges of murder while engaged in narcotics trafficking and firearm-related murder. The US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York alleges that they conspired to kill Jay over a drug dispute.

On Oct. 30, 2002, Jay (real name Jason Mizell) was in his Queens recording studio when a masked gunman shot him in the head with a-.40-caliber bullet. He was 37 and survived by his three sons and one daughter.

The indictment claims that Jay had 10 kilograms of cocaine that were supposed to be distributed by several people, including Washington and Jordan, but Washington was going to be cut out of the deal. Washington and Jordan allegedly planned Jay’s death together, with Jordan being the one to fire the deadly shot.

Washington, who has been a suspect for over a decade, has already been behind bars since he was sentenced to 17 years in prison in 2008 for a string of robberies. Jordan was arrested Monday. Jordan is also charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and seven counts of cocaine distribution. If convicted, each faces a minimum of 20 years in prison and a maximum of a life sentence or the death penalty.

The 2018 Netflix documentary “ReMastered: Who Killed Jam Master Jay?” speculated about Washington and Jordan as suspects, but no conclusive evidence was found.

Before his murder, Jay was responsible for several hits with Run-DMC, including “It’s Tricky” and Aerosmith’s “Walk This Way.” He also founded his own label, Jam Master Jay Records, which launched the career of rapper 50 Cent.