Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
2 men found guilty in Queens murder of Jam Master Jay
By
Charles Lane
and
Phil Corso
Published Feb 27, 2024
Modified Feb 27, 2024
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage
By
Charles Lane
and
Phil Corso
Published Feb 27, 2024
Modified Feb 27, 2024
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
More than two decades after the mysterious killing of hip hop legend Jason "Jam Master Jay" Mizell at his Jamaica, Queens recording studio, federal prosecutors have convicted two men of murder, saying they were motivated by greed and revenge to “execute” him.
Karl Jordan Jr. and Ronald Washington were found guilty of murder while engaged in a narcotics trafficking conspiracy and firearm-related murder in the Oct. 30, 2002 shooting, federal prosecutors said on Tuesday. Both men face a minimum of 20 years behind bars and a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Prosecutors said that Jordan, Jr., boasted that if Mizell was still alive, “I’d kill him again.”
“More than two decades after they killed Jason Mizell in his recording studio, Jordan and Washington have finally been held accountable for their cold-blooded crime driven by greed and revenge,” United States Attorney Breon Peace said in a statement. “That the victim, professionally known as Jam Master Jay, was a hip hop icon and Run-D.M.C.’s music was born in Hollis, Queens, in this very district, and beloved by so many, adds to the tragedy of a life senselessly cut short.”
Mizell was a member of the hip hop group Run-D.M.C., known for 1980s hits “It’s Tricky,” “King of Rock” and “Beats to the Rhyme.”
A third person charged in the murder, Jay Bryant, is expected to stand trial separately. Prosecutors say he opened the door to the studio for Jordan and Washington.
Attorneys for Jordan and Washington left court without commenting. They said in court they planned to appeal the verdict,which could take several years. Jordan and Washington are currently being held in federal detention in Brooklyn.
Jordan’s mother, Jacqueline Gonzalez, said she was angry at the verdict and accused prosecutors’ 35 witnesses of lying.
“I believe he's innocent. I believe he had nothing to do with this,” she said. “ We loved Jason, my son loved Jason.”
Two first cousins for Mizell attended every day of the month-long trial and said they felt relieved.
“It’s definitely a long time coming,” Carlis Thompson said outside court. “ But justice delayed is not always justice denied.”
Federal officials said Mizell was involved in arranging for the sale of kilogram-quantities of cocaine in New York and elsewhere between the 1990s and 2002. In August 2002, Mizell acquired approximately 10 kilograms of cocaine on consignment from a supplier based in California, prosecutors said.
The cocaine was intended to be distributed in Maryland by Washington, Jordan and other co-conspirators, according to officials. A dispute between Washington and one of the co-conspirators in Baltimore resulted in Mizell cutting Washington and Jordan out of the Maryland drug deal, worth almost $200,000, authorities said. Following this betrayal, Washington and Jordan continued in the larger narcotics conspiracy until they could ultimately cut out Mizell by murdering him, according to officials.
Prosecutors said Jordan and Washington entered Jay’s studio with guns drawn around 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 30, 2002. Washington pointed his gun at someone in the studio and demanded that they get on the ground, court papers state. Then, according to prosecutors, Jordan fired two bullets. One struck and injured Uriel “Tony” Rincon. The other hit Mizell in the head, instantly killing him.
Several people were in the studio at the time of shooting, but no one called 911, a former detective who responded to the scene testified. But the studio was less than a block from the NYPD's 103rd Precinct, former Detective James Lusk said, and police quickly learned there had been a shooting nearby and rushed over.
The case went unsolved for almost two decades. Lusk said police never obtained surveillance footage that showed the perpetrators, even though the studio had surveillance cameras and the building was right near an MTA bus depot.
In 2020, a federal grand jury in New York City charged Jordan and Washington with murder while engaged in narcotics trafficking and firearm-related murder.
Samantha Max contributed reporting.
Tagged
new york city
queens
public safety
Charles Lane
Charles is a Day-of reporter focused on breaking news and enterprise. He’s very friendly and can be reached at [email protected], or more securely on whatsapp/signal 631-295-6715
Read more
Phil Corso
Phil Corso is the evening news editor at WNYC/Gothamist. Got a tip? Email [email protected].
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Federal judge rules Mamdani administration must give ICE names of Bronx shelter residents
The city argued the request was more "political" than investigatory.
By
Willow Higgins
Published Nov 7, 2026 at 4:49 p.m. ET
NYPD arrests and charges city schools employee in murder of Brooklyn jogger
Lawmakers are asking how Sayed Mohassib was allowed to work at a school.
By
Kaya Laterman
News
NYPD arrests and charges city schools employee in murder of Brooklyn jogger
Lawmakers are asking how Sayed Mohassib was allowed to work at a school.
By
Kaya Laterman
Work is underway to replace deteriorating Newark Bay Bridge, a major NY-NJ route
By
Michael Sol Warren
Quest Diagnostics pays $13M to settle kickback allegations involving NY Giants tickets
By
Kaya Laterman
Person found dead with stab wounds in Queens building, NYPD says
By
Giulia Heyward
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .