Two men have been arrested for the 2002 murder of iconic Hip-Hop deejay Jason "Jam-Master Jay" Mizell. The slaying of Run-D.M.C.'s famed turntablist sent shockwaves through the early 00s New York City Hip-Hop community and shocked rap fans around the world. According to the Associated Press, the suspects have been identified by prosecutors as Ronald Washington and Karl Jordan, Jr.
On Monday, Aug. 17, federal officials in conjunction with the New York City Police Department announced indictments for the two men. They have both been connected to the heretofore unsolved murder of Mizell. Washington was reportedly already in federal prison; Jordan was arrested by ATF and the NYPD on Sunday, Aug. 16. The federal indictment against the pair offers some possible clarity on exactly why Jam-Master Jay, who was well-regarded in his Queens hometown, was shot in cold blood on a late October night 18 years ago in the rap legend's studio.
NBC New York reports that "federal prosecutors allege the two men entered Jay's 24/7 Studio in Jamaica in search of 10 kilograms of cocaine they intended to distribute in Maryland."
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE PRESS CONFERENCE
Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Seth DuCharme offered a statement.
"Primarily this is a case about a murder which for nearly two decades had gone unanswered. Today we begin to answer the question of who killed Jason Mizell and why. The passage of time offers you no escape."
"What we’ve alleged in that indictment is that on October 30, 2002, nearly 20 years ago, Mr. Jordan and Mr. Washington walked into a music studio in Queens where Mr. Mizell and others were working essentially, hanging out, and they walked in and murdered him in cold blood," DuCharme said.
Jordan, who was 18-years old at the time, is believed to have pulled the trigger. According to The New York Post, he has no adult criminal record.
As DJ for Run-D.M.C., Jam-Master Jay was one of the world's most famous spinners. The group rose to fame in the 1980s on a string of hits like "It's Like That" and "Walk This Way," with platinum albums like King Of Rock and Raising Hell, two films, endorsements and several lucrative tours spanning almost twenty years. Outside of the group, which was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame in 2008, Jay contributed to albums by other platinum artists like Slick Rick and launched his own label, JMJ Records, which eventually signed stars like Onyx and a young 50 Cent.
Jam-Master Jay was 37 when he was gunned down.
* HEADER CREDIT: Jam Master Jay of "Run DMC" attends 30th Annual Grammy Awards on March 2, 1988 at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)