The long-awaited trial for the murder of legendary DJ Jam Master Jay, born Jason Mizell, is set to begin next January. Jay Bryant, who has pleaded not guilty to the murder, is currently in talks with federal prosecutors about a possible plea deal.
Mizell was shot in his Queens recording studio in 2002, and it took decades for investigators to make arrests in the case. Karl Jordan Jr. and Ronald Washington were convicted in February 2020, with prosecutors alleging that the motive behind the murder was a dispute over a drug deal.
Bryant, who had little connection to Mizell, became involved in the case after his DNA was found on a hat in the studio. Despite this evidence, prosecutors do not allege that Bryant was the killer. Instead, they claim that he facilitated the entry of Washington and Jordan into the building where the murder took place.
During the trial of Jordan and Washington, witnesses initially denied being able to identify the attackers but later implicated the defendants. Bryant’s lawyer, César de Castro, declined to comment on the ongoing negotiations with federal prosecutors.
As the trial date approaches, the details of the plea deal and Bryant’s potential involvement in the murder remain unclear. The case has captivated fans of Mizell and Run-DMC, who are eager to see justice served for the iconic DJ.