In a dramatic legal reversal, a federal judge has overturned the murder conviction of a man found guilty of killing Run-DMC's legendary DJ, Jam Master Jay, more than two decades ago.
The Judge's Ruling and Lack of Motive
On Friday, 19 December 2025, U.S. District Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall acquitted Karl Jordan Jr. of the murder charges. The judge ruled that prosecutors failed to provide sufficient evidence that Jordan had a motive to kill the hip-hop icon. This decision came nearly two years after a jury initially delivered a guilty verdict in the same Brooklyn federal court where Judge Hall presided over the trial.
Jordan's defence team had consistently argued the evidence did not support the prosecution's central claim. They rejected the allegation that Jordan murdered Jam Master Jay, whose real name was Jason Mizell, as an act of revenge over a botched drug deal. Following the ruling, one of Jordan's attorneys, John Diaz, expressed relief in an email statement, saying, "We are really happy for Mr. Jordan and his family that justice was served."
A Cold Case and a Co-defendant's Failed Bid
The killing itself dates back to 30 October 2002, when Jam Master Jay was shot dead inside his Queens recording studio. An eyewitness had testified to seeing Jordan, who was reportedly the DJ's own godfather, commit the shooting. For years, the case remained one of the hip-hop world's most notorious unsolved mysteries.
In a separate but related decision, Judge Hall denied a bid for acquittal or a new trial from Jordan's co-defendant, Ronald Washington. While Jordan's murder conviction was overturned, he remains incarcerated. He is awaiting trial on separate drug charges filed years after the 2002 killing, as he had not yet been sentenced for the murder before the conviction was thrown out.
The Legacy of Jam Master Jay
Jam Master Jay, born Jason Mizell, was the pioneering turntablist for Run-D.M.C. The group was instrumental in catapulting hip-hop into the pop music mainstream during the 1980s with era-defining hits like "It's Tricky" and their groundbreaking collaboration with Aerosmith on "Walk This Way." His violent death sent shockwaves through the music industry and his fans worldwide.
A message seeking comment was sent to the prosecution's office following the judge's ruling. The overturning of this high-profile conviction marks a significant and unexpected turn in a case that has captivated public attention for over twenty years.
