Jam Master Jay was allegedly killed over a drug deal.
Jam Master Jay was allegedly killed over a drug deal
The Run-DMC star, born Jason Mizell, was shot dead aged 37 at his recording studio in Queens, New York, in October 2002, and a jury has now heard the claim about the apparent motive behind his assassination in the trial of his godson Karl Jordan Jr, 40, who is standing accused of killing the DJ with his 59-year-old friend Ronald Washington.
According to The Sun, prosecutors said on Monday (29.01.24) during the New York trial the pair – who deny murder – carried out what was called an “execution” as revenge after they were cut out of a drug deal worth nearly $200,000.
Jordan was 18 at the time and is said to have shot Jay in the head with a handgun.
Jam Master – one third of hip-hop group Run-DMC with Joseph Simmons, aka Run, and Darryl McDaniels, known as DMC – is said to have been a middleman in cocaine deals to fund his lifestyle as his music career started to fade.
Jurors also heard Washington, who was staying with Jam’s sister at the time of his murder, was an alcoholic and relied on him to keep a roof over his head.
Jordan’s defence attorney John Diaz said some prosecution witnesses co-operated with federal investigators in exchange for leniency in their own criminal cases.
Washington’s defence lawyer Ezra Spilke said there is no forensic evidence linking him to the murder.
He told the jury: “Mizell was a beloved artist, but convicting the wrong person… does not solve the tragedy. It just adds another one to it.”
The trial continues and is expected to last another month.