Two charged with 2002 New York murder 'in cold blood' of rapper Jam Master Jay

FILE PHOTO: Members of the musical group RUN-DMC (L to R) Jason Mizell (Jam Master Jay), Darryl McDaniels (DMC) and Joseph Simmons (DJ Run) pose for photographs after being inducted into Hollywood's Rockwalk on February 25, 2002 in Los Angeles, California. Hollywood's Rockwalk is a sidewalk gallery dedicated to honoring artists who have made a significant contribution to the evolution of rock 'n roll./File Photo

Rapper Jam Master Jay, one of the founder members of Run-DMC, was murdered in 2002 "in cold blood" as part of a dispute over a drugs deal, U.S. prosecutors said on Monday.

They announced that two men had been charged with his murder, bringing to a close the attempt to solve one of the biggest unsolved killings in the world of rap.

Jam Master Jay, 37, whose real name was Jason Mizell, was shot inside a recording studio in the New York City borough of Queens.

Seth DuCharme, acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, speaks during a news conference about charges relating to the 2002 shooting death of Jam Master Jay, the D.J. for Run-DMC, outside the U.S. Attorney's office in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, U.S., August 17, 2020. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

"This is a case about a murder that for nearly two decades had gone unanswered, and so today we begin to answer that question of who killed Jason Mizell, and why," Seth DuCharme, the acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, told a news conference.

One of the accused men, Karl Jordan Jr., pleaded not guilty to murder and eight drug-related charges through his lawyer when he was arraigned on Monday. DuCharme said the other man, Ronald Washington, would be arraigned later this week. If convicted they would face 20 years to life behind bars.

"They walked in and they murdered him (Mizell) in cold blood," DuCharme said.

Seth DuCharme, acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, attends a news conference about charges relating to the 2002 shooting death of Jam Master Jay, the D.J. for Run-DMC, outside the U.S. Attorney's office in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, U.S., August 17, 2020. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

Run-DMC, one of the best-known rap acts of the 1980s, was founded in New York City in 1981. Jam Master Jay was a founder member along with Joseph “Run” Simmons and Darryl “DMC” McDaniel. Their hits included “It’s Tricky,” “Christmas in Hollis” and the Aerosmith cover “Walk This Way.”

Washington, 56, who is already in prison, was previously named as a suspect in Mizell's murder in 2007 but was not charged. Jordan, 36, was arrested on Sunday.

According to the indictment, Washington and Jordan entered Mizell's recording studio in Queens on the evening of Oct. 30, 2002. Both men were armed. Jordan fired two shots at close range at Mizell, striking the rapper once in the head.

Investigators allege the motive for the killing was a dispute over the distribution of about 10 kg (22.05 lb) of cocaine that Mizell had acquired elsewhere.

Washington and Jordan had intended to distribute the cocaine, but Mizell "had recently informed Washington that the defendant would not be involved in distributing the narcotics" which precipitated the murder, according to the court filings.

(Reporting by Jill Serjeant, Lisa Richwine and Daniel Trotta; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama, Steve Orlofsky and Tom Brown)