Posted on 09/25/2020 10:40:54 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Federal authorities could seek the death penalty for the two men accused of killing Run-DMC DJ Jam Master Jay, prosecutors said Friday.
Prosecutors said they had discussed the move with defense attorneys representing Ronald Washington, 56, and Karl Jordan Jr., 36, the duo accused of busting into Jam Master Jay’s studio on Oct. 30, 2002.
Jordan was charged with pulling the trigger at point-blank range, while Washington pointed his gun at others in the room, authorities said.
“We had discussed our capital case memorandum which the government is prepared to submit,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Artie McConnell in the Friday phone hearing on the case.
But Washington’s defense attorney told the Daily News it was too early to think about the death penalty.
“Still in America they might have to prove he might have done it,” said Susan Kellman.
Federal prosecutors file “capital case memoranda” in any case that is death penalty-eligible, though it does not mean they are necessarily seeking the death penalty.
Prosecutors in the Eastern District of New York — where Washington and Jordan Jr. are being tried — will issue a recommendation on whether or not to seek the death penalty, but the final decision is up to the U.S. Attorney General.
Before Friday’s hearing, Washington was heard over the phone asking Jordan Jr. how he was doing.
“Not doing good,” Jordan responded.
“Hey, what floor you on,” Washington asked, referring to floors at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center, where the two men are being held.
A lawyer for Jordan Jr. then cut off the conversation, and warned the men that reporters were on the line.
Jam Master Jay, born Jason Mizell, was 37 when he was killed. The Hollis, Queens native was part of the influential Run-DMC hip hop group that rose to fame in the early 1980s with hits like “It’s Like That” and the crossover hit “Walk This Way” with rock band Aerosmith.
Prosecutors said he was killed over a drug deal. He had acquired 10 kilograms of cocaine that he was planning on selling with Washington, but cut Washington out of the deal at the last minute, according to the feds.
Another man, Uriel Rincon, was also shot that night at the studio.
They could seek the death penalty for the murder of Jam Master Jay, who is Kamala Harris second favorite living rapper.
Why is this Federal?
What the actual...? They murdered this guy EIGHTEEN YEARS AGO and the death penalty is just now being considered?
These scumbuckets should have been offed within 6 MONTHS.
Yeah, black lives matter. ONLY if those black lives are CRIMINAL in livelihood and intent, obviously.
There seems to be a trend with rappers dying violent deaths.
Run-DMC was early-80s old-school rap, when it rap could be worth a damn. You want to see how rap changed? Just read the lyrics from Run DMC's "It's Like That" (below) below, and compare it to Cardi-B's "WAP" (NOT listed here!):
"It's Like That"
[Run]
Unemployment at a record highs
People coming, people going, people born to die
Don't ask me, because I don't know why
But it's like that, and that's the way it is
[D.M.C.]
People in the world tryin to make ends meet
You try to ride car, train, bus, or feet
I said you got to work hard, you want to compete
It's like that, and that's the way it is
Huh!
[Run & D.M.C. alternate lines for the remainder of the song]
Money is the key to end all your woes
Your ups, your downs, your highs and your lows
Won't you tell me the last time that love bought you clothes?
It's like that, and that's the way it is
Bills rise higher every day
We receive much lower pay
I'd rather stay young, go out and play
It's like that, and that's the way it is
Huh!
Wars going on across the sea
Street soldiers killing the elderly
Whatever happened to unity?
It's like that, and that's the way it is
Disillusion is the word
That's used by me when I'm not heard
I just go through life with my glasses blurred
It's like that, and that's the way it is
Huh!
You can see a lot in this lifespan
Like a bum eating out of a garbage can
You noticed one time he was your man
It's like that (what?) and that's the way it is
You should have gone to school, you could've learned a trade
But you laid in the bed where the bums have laid
Now all the time you're crying that you're underpaid
It's like that (what?) and that's the way it is
Huh!
One thing I know is that life is short
So listen up homeboy, give this a thought
The next time someone's teaching why don't you get taught?
It's like that (what?) and that's the way it is
If you really think about it times aren't that bad
The one that flexes with successes will make you glad
Stop playing start praying, you won't be sad
It's like that (what?) and that's the way it is
Huh!
When you feel you fail sometimes it hurts
For a meaning in life is why you search
Take the bus or the train, drive to school or the church
It's like that, and that's the way it is
Here's another point in life you should not miss
Do not be a fool who's prejudiced
Because we're all written down on the same list
It's like that (what?) and that's the way it is
Huh!
You know it's like that, and that's the way it is
Because it's like that, and that's the way it is
[Repeat these lines til fade]
True, but from what I remember, Jason William Mizell / "Jam Master Jay" was a good guy.
I think his murder had something to do with not obeying some kind of blacklist against another rapper. I haven't heard about any of the members of Run-DMC being involved with crime.
Prosecutors said he was killed over a drug deal. He had acquired 10 kilograms of cocaine that he was planning on selling with Washington, but cut Washington out of the deal at the last minute, according to the feds.
Why are these thugs even in prison. Encourage them with hard cash to off drug dealers. That is the way it is done in Brazil..
The investigation took a long time. They weren’t even indicted until 2020.
Crap. I'm upset to read this, as my post above (made without reading the whole article) shows I assumed JMJ was crime-free.
That was a waste of 30 seconds.
The Bard it ain't, but the sentiment of the lyrics is good: get an education, get off of your @$$ and to work, don't be violent, and PRAY.
Compared to modern hip-hop (hit songs about genitalia moisture) it's PhD dissertation level.
I agree. At least there’s no rape or slaughtering your friends or talks about explicit sex and explicit violence.
And they actually had music behind their words with the rap. Like rock box.
They covered Walk This way with Steven Tyler and it was pretty good.
I like it better than the original.
And if one is on this site at this hour they can spare 30 seconds :-)
The brain power of rap on full display yet again...
[There seems to be a trend with rappers dying violent deaths.]
Yeah, weird. It’s probably eating disorders.
Now this is justice, not the killing of cops
“They covered Walk This way with Steven Tyler and it was pretty good.”
When someone talked to the rappers about covering the song they listened to the record and said F##K NO!
When it was proposed to Steven Tyler he said F##K NO!
Darryl McDaniel agreed to do it if they could speed it up and add some rap beat. Tyler decided he needed to be involved to “protect the music.”
When Tyler and Joe Perry got to the studio the guys from DMC had already tweaked the song a little. Tyler and Perry made some suggestions and slowly it became a collaboration instead of DMC covering an Aerosmith song.
Musical history is made in some strange ways.
That’s my question too, why is this a Federal case? Because of the drugs?
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