A Far Rockaway man has admitted his role in the 2002 killing of Run-DMC’s DJ Jason Mizell, more than two decades after the fatal shooting inside a Queens recording studio.
Mizell, known worldwide as Jam Master Jay, was a pioneering DJ and founding member of the influential hip-hop group Run-DMC, helping bring rap music into the mainstream in the 1980s with hits like “Walk This Way” and “It’s Tricky.” Widely respected for his technical skill and role in shaping hip-hop culture, Mizell was fatally shot on October 30, 2002, inside his “24/7” recording studio in Jamaica, Queens. Authorities said two gunmen entered the studio and opened fire at close range, killing the 37-year-old artist and wounding another person in an attack that remained unsolved for years before federal charges were eventually brought.
Federal prosecutors said Jay Bryant, 52, pleaded guilty Monday in Brooklyn federal court to charges tied to the firearm-related murder of Mizell. Bryant, also known by multiple aliases, faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years and up to 20 years in prison when sentenced. The same sentencing range applies to separate narcotics trafficking and firearms charges he previously admitted to in 2023.
According to authorities, Bryant’s role in the killing was to facilitate access for the gunmen. On the night of the murder, Bryant entered the building housing Mizell’s “24/7” recording studio on Merrick Boulevard in Jamaica, Queens, and opened a locked fire escape door, allowing the shooters to enter undetected.
Prosecutors said co-defendants Karl Jordan Jr. and Ronald Washington then entered the studio armed with firearms. Washington forced a person in the studio to the ground at gunpoint while Jordan approached Mizell and fired two close-range shots, striking him in the head and killing him. A second victim was shot in the leg during the attack.
The killing stemmed from a drug dispute, according to court filings. Authorities allege that Mizell had been involved in arranging kilogram-level cocaine transactions separate from his music career. In 2002, a disagreement over a Maryland drug deal worth nearly $200,000 led to Mizell cutting Jordan and Washington out of the operation. Prosecutors say the pair ultimately retaliated by orchestrating the fatal shooting.
U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. said the case reflects a long-running effort by law enforcement to bring accountability in a high-profile killing that remained unsolved for years.
“More than two decades after the execution-style murder of Mr. Mizell, the defendant has finally admitted his role,” Nocella said in a statement.
Federal officials credited multiple agencies, including the New York City Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, along with local and international partners, for their roles in the investigation.
Bryant is awaiting sentencing in federal court. Prosecutors said the case against other co-defendants has already resulted in convictions tied to the long-running investigation.
Photo: Jeff Pinilla, CC BY 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
