Man pleads guilty in the 2002 killing of rap star Jam Master Jay Run-DMC
AP News • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Jam Master Jay's killing, which remained unsolved for nearly 25 years, saw a breakthrough when Jay Bryant pleaded guilty to a federal murder charge, admitting he helped others gain entry to the recording studio where the DJ was ambushed.
- Bryant acknowledged knowing a gun would be used in the shooting and admitted the criminal nature of his actions, but did not name the other individuals involved; two men, Karl Jordan Jr. and Ronald Washington, were previously convicted, though Jordan was later cleared.
- Bryant's sentence, expected to be 15 to 20 years, will also cover unrelated drug and gun charges; no sentencing date has been set yet.
- Mizell, a founding member of Run-DMC, was a pioneering figure in rap music, and his 2002 murder followed the unsolved deaths of other hip-hop icons Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G.
- Prosecutors allege the motive involved a failed cocaine deal, with Bryant's DNA found on a hat at the scene; Bryant's role was to open a back door to allow the shooters to enter without alerting Mizell.
