Two men indicted in murder of Run-DMC's Jam Master Jay
NEW YORK - Authorities in New York on Monday unveiled federal indictments against two men in connection with the shooting murder of Run-DMC star Jam Master Jay nearly 20 years ago.
Jam Master Jay, whose real name was Jason Mizell, was working in a recording studio in Jamaica, Queens, on October 30, 2002, when Ronald Washington and Karl Jordan Jr. walked in and gunned him down in "cold blood," acting U.S. Attorney Seth DuCharme said while announcing the grand jury indictments.
"The victim's family has waited so long for some answer, some justice for Mr. Mizell. For the crime of murder, the passage of time offers you know escape," DuCharme said. "This office has a long proud tradition of doing cold case murders and working with our local partners and federal partners and we don't give up on these cases."
DuCharme said the "brazen" murder was related to a dispute over drugs.
"Washington pointed his firearm at an individual located inside the studio and demanded that the person lie on the floor," the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a statement. "Jordan approached Mizell, pointed his firearm at him, and fired two shots at close range, striking the victim once in the head, killing him. The second shot struck another individual in the leg."
The 10-count indictment charges Washington and Jordan with murder while engaged in narcotics trafficking and firearm-related murder, authorities said. The indictment also charges Jordan with several counts of narcotics distribution.
"The charges announced today begin to provide a measure of justice to the family and friends of the victim, and make clear that the rule of law will be upheld, whether that takes days, months or decades," DuCharme said in a statement.
Police detectives and federal agents arrested Jordan on Sunday. Jordan, 36, also known as "Little D" and "Noid," was set to be arraigned via video on Monday afternoon.
Jam Master Jay of Run DMC performs on stage at the Respect Festival, Finsbury Park, London, United Kingdom, 2001. (Photo by Martyn Goodacre/Getty Images)
Washington, 56, also known as "Tinard," is currently serving a federal prison sentence stemming from a string of robberies he committed while on the run from police after Jay's death. He'd been living on a couch at Jay’s home in the days before the shooting and was publicly named as a possible suspect or witness as far back as 2007. But authorities couldn't make a case at the time.
DuCharme said Washington would be arraigned at a later date.
Before sleeping on Jay's couch, Washington had been linked to the 1995 fatal shooting of Randy Walker, a close associate of the late Tupac Shakur.
Jay left behind a wife and three children.
The 1980s hip-hop sensation Run-DMC was known for hits such as "It's Tricky" and the Aerosmith remake collaboration "Walk This Way."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.