Jury deliberations set to begin in trial over Jam Master Jay's death
NEW YORK (PIX11) – Jury deliberations are set to begin Thursday in the trial over Jam Master Jay's killing over two decades ago.
Jam Master Jay, also known as Jason Mizell, was gunned down while in his Queens recording studio in 2002. Prosecutors said Karl Jordan Jr. and Ronald "Tinard" Washington killed the rap legend in a cocaine deal gone bad.
Both defendants' defense teams are blaming a third person, Jay Bryant, saying DNA evidence puts him at the scene of the crime. Bryant is being tried separately.
Prosecutors insisted Jordan pulled the trigger and shot Mizell, who also happened to be his godfather, in the head while Washington watched the door.
Washington's defense attorney mocked the assertion that Jordan and Washington were standing at a fire escape door while Mizell was killed in closing arguments Wednesday.
"Just maybe they were there, and just borrowed Harry Potter’s invisibility cloak," attorney Susan Kellman said.
If convicted, both defendants could face 20 years behind bars. Bryant's trial is scheduled for 2026.
Erin Pflaumer is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered both local and national news since 2018. She joined PIX11 in 2023. See more of her work here.