Man pleads guilty to murder 2 decades after death of Run DMC's Jam Master Jay

April 27, 2026

Jay Bryant, 52, has pleaded guilty to murder charges related to the 2002 killing of Run-DMC's DJ Jam Master Jay (Jason Mizell), more than two decades after the crime occurred. Bryant admitted to helping others enter the Queens recording studio where Mizell was fatally shot, with prosecutors linking him to the scene through DNA evidence found on a hat. Two other men, Karl Jordan Jr.

Who is affected

Jay Bryant (defendant who pleaded guilty)
Jason Mizell/Jam Master Jay (murder victim)
Karl Jordan Jr. (Mizell's godson, previously convicted but conviction overturned)
Ronald Washington (Mizell's childhood friend, convicted and challenging conviction)
Joseph "Run" Simmons and Darryl "DMC" McDaniel (Run-DMC members whose group disbanded after the killing)
Federal prosecutors handling the case
Bryant's legal team

What action is being taken

Bryant is pleading guilty to murder charges
Bryant's lawyers are negotiating a deal with federal prosecutors
Washington is challenging his conviction
Jordan is challenging his overturned conviction

Why it matters

This case represents a significant breakthrough in a cold case that remained unsolved for approximately 20 years after shocking the music industry in 2002. Jam Master Jay was a pioneering figure in hip-hop as part of the influential group Run-DMC, whose 1980s hits helped shape rap music. The guilty plea provides some measure of justice and closure for a high-profile murder that had long gone unresolved, demonstrating that serious crimes can still be prosecuted successfully even decades later.

What's next

Bryant faces sentencing of 15 to 20 years in prison for the murder conviction and unrelated drug and gun charges.

Read full article from source: BBC