Two men were charged with being linked to the murder of the hip hop musician Jam Master Jay, from the band Run-DMC, a case that remains unsolved for 18 years.
The Brooklyn prosecution announced Monday a 10-count indictment against the suspects. Ronald Washington, that he was already incarcerated, and Karl Jordan Jr, who was arrested on Sunday.
The crimes are linked to what happened on October 30, 2002, when rap music pioneer Jason “Jay” Mizell was killed in a head shot in his studio in Queens. The 37-year-old artist was the father of three children.
Jordan Jr., 36, pleaded not guilty Monday when he appeared before the judge on a conference call.
The 56-year-old Washington must appear before a judge at a later date.
Both are accused of homicide while trafficking drugs, and also murder with a firearm. Jordan is also charged with several additional narcotics distribution offenses.
If found guilty, defendants face a minimum of 20 years in jail and a maximum of life imprisonment, or the death penalty.
“They entered and murdered him in cold blood”Acting prosecutor Seth DuCharme said in announcing the indictment.
“For the crime of murder, the passage of time offers you no escape,” he added.
According to court documents, the motive for the murder was linked to the purchase of cocaine by Mizell that was to be distributed in Maryland by a group that included Washington and Jordan.
An internal fight led to Mizell putting Washington out of business, which prosecutors say led to the crime.
The homicide was particularly shocking given the reputation of Run-DMC, the 1980s hip hop band known for hits like “Tricky”, which regularly denounced the violent gang culture, and which in the early 1990s became associated with rap music.
Over the years investigators explored a number of possible motives, including a fight with the Queens rapper. 50 Cent, who was Jam Master Jay’s protégé. That theory was later abandoned.
The murder of Jam Master Jay followed a wave of executions of rappers in the ’90s, including those of superstars like Tupac Shakur y The Notorious B.I.G.
With LL Cool J y Public Enemy, Run-DMC was a pioneer of hip hop new school (new school), a sound characterized by rock elements, aggressive boasting, and socio-political commentary.
Before his death, Mizell became very influential in New York working with young aspiring rappers, and he founded a DJ academy.
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