A man who was indicted for the 2002 murder of Run-DMC's Jame Master Jay has pleaded guilty for his role in the shooting of the hip-hop pioneer.
Jay Bryant, 52, pleaded guilty to a federal murder charge, telling a judge that he helped other people get into a recording studio to ambush the DJ, born Jason Mizell.
“I knew a gun was going to be used to shoot Jason Mizell,” Bryant told a federal magistrate. “I knew that what I was doing was wrong and a crime.”
Bryant did not name the other people with whom he acted. However, a jury in 2024 convicted two other men - Karl Jordan Jr. and Ronald Washington. A judge subsequently cleared Jordan and Washington has also challenged his conviction.
When sentenced, Bryant faces a minimum term of 15 years and up to 20 years in prison. No sentencing date has been set.
Bryant was originally indicted in May 2023, and had pleaded not guilty. His trial was set to start on 4 May, but Bryant changed his plea to guilty.
Jason Mizell was shot over a failed drug deal at his recording studio in Queens in October 2002. He was 37.
“More than two decades after the cold-blooded, execution-style killing of Mr. Mizell, an exhaustive investigation revealed Bryant’s role and today he finally admitted his guilt,” United States Attorney Joseph Nocella said in a press release. “The prosecutors in our Office and our law enforcement partners never give up, no matter how long it takes, in the pursuit of justice for the victim and the victim’s family.”
Mizell was a founding member of the influential hip-hop trio Run-DMC, alongside Joseph Simmons and Darryl “DMC” McDaniels – known as Rev. Run and DJ Run. With hit songs like ‘It’s Tricky’, ‘My Adidas’ and a version of Aerosmith’s ‘Walk This Way’.
The trio was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2009.
