The defense gave closing arguments on February 21, 2024, in the federal trial over the 2002 killing of Run-DMC DJ Jason Mizell, known as Jam Master Jay. A jury convicted Karl Jordan Jr. and Ronald Washington six days later, but that was not the last word: in December 2025, the judge acquitted Jordan while leaving Washington’s conviction in place. In April 2026, Jay Bryant separately pleaded guilty to a role in the killing.
What happened in the Jam Master Jay trial?
The trial concerned the 2002 killing of Jason Mizell, the influential DJ known as Jam Master Jay, at a Queens recording studio. Karl Jordan Jr. and Ronald Washington faced federal charges tied to the murder. The case went to trial before U.S. District Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall in Brooklyn; the trial lasted four weeks, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
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Prosecutors argued that the killing grew out of a narcotics dispute. In its account of the 2024 verdict, the Justice Department said Mizell had cut Jordan and Washington out of a Maryland drug deal and that the dispute led to the murder. That was the government’s theory of motive, not an uncontested account of the events.
When were the closing arguments and verdict?
Prosecutors presented closing arguments on Tuesday, February 20, 2024. The defense gave its closings the following day, Wednesday, February 21. Jurors began deliberating on February 22 and returned guilty verdicts against both Jordan and Washington on February 27.
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In closing, prosecutors urged jurors to convict, relying on their account of the alleged motive and trial testimony. Defense lawyers challenged the evidence and the reliability of witnesses’ memories. Those arguments were advocacy by the parties; the jury’s verdict was the initial outcome, subject to later court proceedings.
The Justice Department described the charges as murder while engaged in a narcotics-trafficking conspiracy and firearm-related murder. The jury’s February 2024 verdicts did not remain the final procedural outcome for both defendants.
What did the judge later decide about Jordan and Washington?
On December 19, 2025, Judge DeArcy Hall set aside Jordan’s conviction and acquitted him, finding the evidence insufficient on the drug-related motive required for the charged murder theory, the Associated Press reported. The judge upheld Washington’s jury conviction in the same ruling. Thus, the two men convicted by the jury in 2024 had different outcomes after the judge’s later review.
What was Jay Bryant’s role in the later proceedings?
On April 27, 2026, Jay Bryant pleaded guilty in federal court to firearm-related murder for his role in Mizell’s killing, the Justice Department said. The government’s release characterized Bryant’s role as opening a locked door for the killers to enter the studio. The plea is Bryant’s own admission; it should not be treated as an admission by Jordan or Washington or as a replacement for the separate rulings in their cases.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsThe Justice Department said Bryant faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison and a maximum of 20 years on that count. That is the stated sentencing range, not a report of a sentence already imposed.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is known about Jordan’s release appeal?
An Associated Press report published April 10, 2026, said prosecutors appealed a ruling that would have allowed Jordan’s release on bond, and the judge put the release on hold while the appeal proceeded. The later outcome of that appeal and Jordan’s current custody status are not established by the available reporting cited here, so neither should be inferred from the 2025 acquittal or the April 2026 report.
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Sources
- Courthouse News Service: February 2024 closing arguments and deliberations
- U.S. Department of Justice: February 27, 2024 verdict and case description
- Associated Press: December 19, 2025 ruling on Jordan and Washington
- U.S. Department of Justice: April 27, 2026 Bryant guilty plea
- Associated Press via NY1: April 10, 2026 bond-release appeal report
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