Feds Will Not Seek Death Penalty Against Jam Master Jay’s Killers

The two men Karl Jordan and Ronald Washington accused of killing Jam Master Jay will not face the death penalty, if found guilty according to federal prosecutors. NY Post reports. Jam Master Jay was the DJ of the influential hip hop group Run-D.M.C. During the 1980s, Run-D.M.C. became one of the biggest hip hop groups and are credited with breaking hip hop into mainstream music. Jay was working in his Jamaica, Queens, studio on Oct. 30, 2002, when the duo busted in and shot him to death. Prosecutors said Mizell, was targeted for cutting Washington and Jordan out of a 10, kilos of cocaine deal. Although Washington has been named as someone who conspired with Jordan to commit the murder even though he didn’t pull the trigger according to investigative documents from the prosecution. The killing has been one of the biggest mysteries in hip-hop history .

The case went unsolved for almost 20 years until a witness came forward with testimony that incriminated Jordan and Washington, who were arrested and charged in August 2020. The investigation also reportedly reveals that Jay was having money issues and owed hundreds of thousands of dollars to the IRS. They believe his financial debts are what led him to get into the drug business. Jay reportedly began drug trafficking around 1997. The Jam Master Jay Case documentary explored in the 2020 ABC explored the details of the investigation.

Currently, there is no date set for the upcoming trial. While they won’t face a death sentence, Jordan and Washington can face a life sentence if found guilty.