Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
2 Men Indicted For 2002 Murder Of Jason "Jam Master Jay" Mizell Of Run-DMC
By
Sydney Pereira
and
Gwynne Hogan
Published Aug 17, 2020
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 .
Adrees Latif/BEI/Shutterstock
By
Sydney Pereira
and
Gwynne Hogan
Published Aug 17, 2020
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
Eighteen years after Jam Master Jay was murdered in Queens, two men have been charged in the D.J.'s death.
Prosecutors announced on Monday the indictments of Ronald Washington and Karl Jordan Jr. on murder charges for the death of the D.J., whose given name is Jason Mizell.
Washington was named as a suspect in 2007 for the killing of Mizell, who was 37 years old when he was slain inside a Queens recording studio in October 2002. A 2018 Netflix documentary revisited the unsolved murder of the hip-hop icon, described as a "larger-than-life figure" whose murder one interviewee feared would be "swept under the rug."
Run RMC—Darryl "DMC" McDaniels, Joseph "Run" Simmons, and Jason "Jam Master Jay" Mizell
Peter Brooker/Shutterstock
Washington, 56, is already in prison for robbery. 36-year-old Jordan was arrested on Sunday, the NY Times reported.
"This is a case about a murder that for nearly two decades had gone unanswered, and so today we begin to answer that question of who killed Jason Mizell and why, and we are confident that we can prove those charges beyond a reasonable doubt," Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District Seth DuCharme said during a press briefing Monday afternoon in Brooklyn.
Jordan, also known as Little D or Noid, was identified by prosecutors as the shooter. He is accused of walking into Mizell's Queens recording studio and firing two shots at close range on October 30th, 2002, according to a detention memo prosecutors sent to federal Judge Lois Bloom.
One bullet struck Mizell in the head, killing him, while a second struck another person in the leg.
The murder was planned after a drug transaction of cocaine from the Midwest to be sold in Maryland went sour, prosecutors allege. Mizell, who had allegedly been involved in transporting cocaine to sell between 1996 and 2002, had excluded Washington, also known as Tinard, from the Maryland deal that summer. In retaliation, Washington and Jordan allegedly plotted Mizell's murder.
After entering the studio, Washington pointed a gun at someone demanding they lay on the ground, while Jordan shot Mizell, according to prosecutors.
"They walked in and they murdered him in cold blood," DuCharme said.
In addition to two counts of murder, Jordan was also charged with possession with the intent to deal cocaine, including seven occasions of distributing cocaine to an undercover federal agent, prosecutors say.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Misorek said that Jordan had previously attempted to silence witnesses from coming forward to police.
Washington and Jordan face up to life in prison, if convicted.
During a virtual arraignment for Jordan on Monday afternoon, he pleaded not guilty on all 10 counts in the indictment. His next court date is September 17th.
Jordan's lawyer, Michael Hueston, did not have comment Monday afternoon.
Washington is expected to be arraigned later this week.
The NYPD's Chief of Detectives Rodney Harrison said during the press briefing, "Me, being a native of Queens and being a big fan of Run-DMC and Jam Master Jay, making this arrest was very important to me."
Tagged
Jason mizell
run-dmc
jam master jay
Sydney Pereira
Read more
Gwynne Hogan
Gwynne Hogan is a former Gothamist reporter.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Man shot and killed on Midtown subway platform Saturday afternoon, NYPD says
Police said they're searching for a person of interest.
By
Ryan Kost
Published Oct 17, 2026 at 1:16 p.m. ET
Modified Oct 17, 2026 at 3:19 p.m. ET
Have you seen this Yorkie? NYPD looking for adorable pup dognapped from her Queens home
Suspects were driving a Subaru Forester, police said.
By
Ryan Kost
News
Have you seen this Yorkie? NYPD looking for adorable pup dognapped from her Queens home
Suspects were driving a Subaru Forester, police said.
By
Ryan Kost
Being reigning champions is weird for Knicks fans, but we could get used to this.
By
Catalina Gonella
Tompkins Square Park is getting a makeover. Some say it's too much.
By
Willow Higgins
Deer are all over New Jersey roads looking for sex, state officials warn
By
Rosemary Misdary
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 .