The indictment of Jay Bryant comes nearly three years after two other men were charged in the fatal shooting of the Run-DMC DJ.
A third person has been charged in connection to the 2002 murder of Jam Master Jay, a DJ from the influential hip-hop group Run-DMC. Jay Bryant, 49, was indicted for the fatal shooting of Jason Mizell, better known by his stage name, Jam Master Jay, in a case that remained unsolved for over two decades.
The indictment, filed in New York’s Eastern District, marks a significant development in the long-running investigation. Bryant, charged with murder related to narcotics trafficking, is also facing a firearms charge. He is currently detained on unrelated federal drug charges and is expected to face arraignment soon. According to court documents, Bryant was seen entering Jam Master Jay’s recording studio in Queens shortly before the shooting on October 20, 2002. Additionally, a piece of clothing left at the scene contained his DNA, which further linked him to the crime.
The indictment adds new details to the case. Although Bryant reportedly claimed responsibility for shooting Mizell, prosecutors cast doubt on his statement, indicating that Karl Jordan Jr. was the one who fired the fatal shot. The investigation revealed that Bryant, Jordan, and another individual, Ronald Washington, fled the scene after the shooting. Washington allegedly threatened a person inside the studio at gunpoint before Mizell was killed.
Bryant is being held pending trial, with prosecutors arguing that he poses a flight risk. They noted his previous drug charges, use of multiple aliases, and his alleged statement to authorities that he might flee to Cuba if released. Meanwhile, Bryant’s lawyer has stated that he will plead not guilty, asserting that the evidence presented in a secret grand jury is insufficient and that the prosecution has not proven its case.
Both Jordan and Washington have pleaded not guilty to the charges they face. Their lawyers have expressed concerns that Bryant’s indictment could undermine their clients’ defense. Washington’s lawyer called the new developments a “game changer,” questioning the prosecution’s strategy ahead of the scheduled trial.