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Conviction Overturned in Murder of Jam Master Jay, Run-DMC Member

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Conviction Overturned in Murder of Jam Master Jay, Run-DMC Member

By Testagram Reels News Desk
December 2025

More than two decades after the killing of hip-hop pioneer Jam Master Jay, a major turn has emerged in the long-running legal case surrounding his death. On Friday, a federal judge overturned the conviction of Karl “Little D” Jordan Jr., one of the men previously found guilty in the 2002 murder of the legendary DJ and founding member of Run-DMC.


The ruling reopens painful questions about one of hip-hop’s most devastating unsolved tragedies and underscores the legal complexity behind a case that took nearly 20 years to reach trial.

A Stunning Legal Reversal

U.S. District Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall granted Jordan’s motion for a judgment of acquittal, effectively vacating his February 2024 conviction. At the same time, the judge conditionally denied Jordan’s request for a new trial, concluding that prosecutors had failed to meet the high legal standard required to sustain the verdict.

In a detailed 29-page ruling, Judge Hall determined that while evidence showed Jordan was involved in drug trafficking at the time, the government did not sufficiently prove that he was motivated by retaliation linked to a disputed drug deal — a key element of the prosecution’s theory.

“The Court is not convinced,” Hall wrote, adding that the government’s arguments regarding Jordan’s motive were “impermissibly speculative and just conjecture.”

Background: The 2002 Killing That Shook Hip-Hop

Jam Master Jay, born Jason William Mizell, was shot and killed inside his recording studio in Queens, New York, on October 30, 2002. The execution-style slaying stunned the global hip-hop community and remained unsolved for nearly two decades, fueling rumors, conspiracy theories, and renewed calls for justice.


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At trial, prosecutors argued that Mizell was killed in revenge after cutting Jordan and Washington out of a lucrative cocaine distribution deal in Baltimore.

Judge Differentiates Between Defendants

While Judge Hall overturned Jordan’s conviction, she denied similar motions filed by Ronald Washington, ruling that sufficient evidence existed for a jury to reasonably infer Washington’s motive.

The judge noted that Washington had been excluded from the Baltimore drug operation and could have sought retaliation against Mizell. However, she found no comparable evidence tying Jordan’s actions to the failed deal.

“From what evidence, then, could the jury have reasonably inferred that Jordan sought to retaliate against Mizell for the failure of the Baltimore deal? There was none,” Hall wrote.

Trial Testimony and Conflicting Evidence

The original trial featured dramatic eyewitness testimony. One witness, Uriel “Tony” Rincon, testified that he knew both Jordan and Washington and claimed Jordan fired the fatal shot. Another witness, Lydia High, said she saw a man with a neck tattoo greet Mizell moments before gunfire erupted — a detail prosecutors linked to Jordan — and alleged Washington held her at gunpoint as she tried to flee.


Jordan, who was 18 years old at the time of the killing, has consistently maintained his innocence. His attorneys argued that he was at his girlfriend’s home on the night of the murder, supported by corroborating witnesses.

Judge Hall acknowledged that while Jordan was involved in the drug conspiracy, prosecutors failed to establish that he felt cheated, sought revenge, or intended to kill Mizell over the Baltimore deal.

Focus Shifts to Jay Bryant

The ruling also brings renewed attention to Jay Bryant, the remaining defendant awaiting trial. According to court filings, Jordan maintains that Bryant was the shooter.

Jordan’s legal team cited testimony from Bryant’s uncle, who claimed Bryant confessed to the killing in 2003 or 2004 and again in 2016. Investigators also found a hat containing Bryant’s DNA at the crime scene, and an eyewitness reported seeing a man matching Bryant’s description entering and leaving the building around the time of the shooting.

Bryant’s trial is currently scheduled for May and is expected to be closely watched by both legal observers and the hip-hop community.

A Case Still Under Review

A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York confirmed that the government is reviewing Judge Hall’s decision regarding Jordan’s acquittal. Attorneys for Jordan and Washington did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Legacy and Lingering Questions

Jam Master Jay’s murder remains one of the most painful chapters in hip-hop history. As a member of Run-DMC, he helped propel rap music into the mainstream, shaping a cultural movement that still resonates worldwide.

With one conviction overturned, another upheld, and a third trial looming, the case continues to evolve — reminding many that even after decades, the pursuit of justice can remain uncertain.

As the legal process moves forward, the legacy of Jam Master Jay endures, while the final answers surrounding his death remain, once again, unresolved.