Two men were found guilty in the 2024 trial over the 2002 killing of Run-D.M.C. DJ Jam Master Jay, but that is no longer the full picture: a judge later acquitted Karl Jordan Jr. of the murder charges, while Ronald Washington’s conviction remained in place. In April 2026, a third defendant, Jay Bryant, pleaded guilty as an accomplice. These are separate legal outcomes for three different men.
What happened to the men in the Jam Master Jay case?
| Defendant | Case development | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Karl Jordan Jr. | A jury convicted him in February 2024; Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall later ruled on his renewed acquittal motion on December 19, 2025. | The judge granted acquittal on the murder counts. Court order, Document 322; Reuters |
| Ronald Washington | A jury convicted him in February 2024; he also sought a post-trial judgment of acquittal. | The judge denied his motion, leaving his conviction intact. Reuters |
| Jay Bryant | He pleaded guilty on April 27, 2026, to firearm-related murder as an accomplice. | DOJ said he faced a mandatory minimum of 15 years and a maximum of 20 years when sentenced; the April 2026 announcement did not say a sentence had been imposed. DOJ |
Why was Jordan’s conviction overturned?
The distinction is a post-trial judgment of acquittal, not a new jury verdict. The jury convicted both Jordan and Washington on February 27, 2024. After trial, Jordan renewed his request for acquittal. In a December 19, 2025 order, the judge concluded the government had not presented enough evidence to sustain Jordan’s murder conviction under its theory of the case.
Prosecutors had argued that a dispute over a Baltimore drug deal motivated the killing, including that Jordan was excluded from drug proceeds. Reuters’ account of the ruling says the judge found the evidence did not establish that Jordan had been cut out or otherwise had the required motive; reaching the government’s proposed inference would require speculation. She granted Jordan’s motion on the murder counts but denied Washington’s similar motion. That ruling did not undo Washington’s conviction.
What did Bryant admit, and what is the government’s account?
In its April 27, 2026 announcement of Bryant’s plea, the U.S. Department of Justice said Bryant admitted opening a locked fire-exit door at the studio for Jordan and Washington, who entered armed. DOJ’s account says Washington ordered a person to the floor and Jordan fired two shots, one striking Mizell in the head and killing him. This is the government’s official account, including facts admitted through Bryant’s plea; it should not be mistaken for a neutral judicial finding of every detail.
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DOJ said Bryant pleaded guilty to firearm-related murder as an accomplice. The announced sentencing range was a 15-year mandatory minimum and a maximum of 20 years when he is sentenced. The April 2026 release did not report an imposed sentence. ATF New York Special Agent in Charge Bryan DiGirolamo said: “Justice in the murder of Jam Master Jay has been pursued with determination and resolve for more than two decades. The defendant’s role in facilitating access for the killers was integral to this crime.”
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What was the original jury verdict?
Jason Mizell, known as Jam Master Jay, was a DJ and music producer with Run-D.M.C. He was shot at his 24/7 recording studio on Merrick Boulevard in Jamaica, Queens, on October 30, 2002. On February 27, 2024, a jury found Jordan and Washington guilty in connection with his killing. That verdict remains part of the case history, but Jordan’s later acquittal changed his legal status on the murder charges. Bryant’s guilty plea came later and involved a separate defendant.
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