Jay Bryant, the third and final suspect in the murder of Jam Master Jay, has admitted his role in the killing, pleading guilty to the firearm related murder of the Run-DMC legend.
On Monday (Apr. 27) in a sparsely-attended federal courtroom in Brooklyn, Bryant appeared in front of Magistrate Judge Peggy Cross-Goldenberg to plead guilty to his involvement in the killing of the DJ, real name Jason Mizell.
Bryant, 52, wearing a blue-green prison jumpsuit with a white thermal shirt underneath, confessed to a role in the October, 2002 shooting in Mizell’s recording studio in Queens that left him dead. In return, prosecutors agreed to tie together this case and an unrelated 2022 narcotics and firearms case Bryant had previously plead guilty to, and impose a sentence of between 15-20 years (180-240 months) behind bars for all charges in both cases, with a term of supervised release afterwards not to exceed ten years. That plea still has to be accepted by a second judge, LaShann DeArcy Hall, who has overseen the Jam Master Jay case from the beginning.
After answering a battery of questions from Judge Cross-Goldenberg with terse statements of “Yes, ma’am” or “No, ma’am,” Bryant read a short statement laying out his role in the crime.
“In 2002, in Queens NY, I agreed with others who were known drug dealers and involved with a drug deal with Jason Mizell to possess and distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine,” he began.
“On October 30, 2002, in Queens NY, I helped them kill Jason Mizell by helping them gain entry to the recording studio. I knew a gun was going to be used to shoot Jason Mizell. I knew what I was doing was wrong and a crime.”
Before being led away, Bryant gave a thumbs-up to his stepfather, who appeared to be his only supporter in the courtroom.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, issued a statement about the plea.
“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,” he stated. “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.”
“Justice in the murder of Jam Master Jay has been pursued with determination and resolve for more than two decades. The defendant’s role in facilitating access for the killers was integral to this crime,” said ATF New York Special Agent in Charge Bryan DiGirolamo. “Today’s guilty plea reflects the dedication of law enforcement and prosecutors who never stopped working to bring accountability for the victim and his family. We are grateful for the partnership of ATF NY’s Joint Firearms Task Force–Long Island, ATF Philadelphia Allentown Office, NYPD, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York.”
The two other suspects in the case, Karl Jordan Jr. and Ronald Washington, were convicted in 2024 of killing Mizell as part of a drug conspiracy. But in 2025, Judge DeArcy Hall overturned Jordan’s conviction, ruling that prosecutors failed to present sufficient evidence showing he had a motive to kill the pioneering DJ.
Judge DeArcy Hall decided earlier this month to let Jordan out on bond while he awaits trial on drug charges. However, prosecutors appealed and Jordan remain locked up as an appellate court examines the decision. Washington’s conviction remains intact.
Jam Master Jay's murder occurred at his studio in Queens, New York in October 2002. The investigation stood as one of the longest unsolved murders in hip-hop history, alongside the killings of 2Pac and The Notorious B.I.G. While there were witnesses who saw the murder in the studio, charges weren't filed until August 2020. According to prosecutors, Jay started selling drugs to support himself and his family once Run-DMC's popularity died down.
No date has been set yet for Bryant’s sentencing.
