In a surprising turn of events, a Brooklyn federal judge has acquitted one of the two men previously found guilty in the 2002 murder of Run-D.M.C. star, Jam Master Jay. U.S. District Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall voided the conviction of Karl Jordan Jr. on Friday, citing insufficient evidence to support the claim that Jordan had a motive to kill the hip-hop icon.

The ruling comes nearly two years after a jury found Jordan and Ronald Washington guilty of the crime, which had remained one of hip-hop's most elusive cases for almost two decades. The 2024 convictions were hailed as a major breakthrough, finally bringing justice for the murder of Jason Mizell, the DJ of the influential group Run-D.M.C.. Run-D.M.C. is credited with bringing hip hop into the mainstream in the 1980s with hits like "It's Tricky" and their collaboration with Aerosmith on "Walk This Way".

Judge Hall, who also presided over the original trial, had initially denied Jordan's request for acquittal. However, after more than 18 months of post-verdict presentations, the judge agreed with Jordan's defense team that the prosecution's evidence was too weak to prove his alleged motive. Jordan's lawyers argued that the evidence did not support the claim that he killed Mizell as revenge for a failed drug deal.

An eyewitness had testified seeing Jordan shoot Mizell, who was also his godfather, in his Queens recording studio on October 30, 2002. Additionally, a former tenant of Jordan's claimed to have overheard Jordan admitting to the killing. Despite this testimony, Judge Hall concluded that the government's theories of Jordan's drug-related motive were "impermissibly speculative and just conjecture".

While Jordan's conviction was overturned, Judge Hall denied co-defendant Ronald Washington's bid for an acquittal or a new trial. Washington's lawyer, Susan Kellman, indicated that he could pursue further appeals. Jordan, who has not yet been sentenced for the murder charge, remains in custody awaiting trial on separate drug charges.

Prosecutors stated that they are currently reviewing the ruling. John Diaz, one of Jordan's attorneys, expressed satisfaction with the decision, stating, "We are really happy for Mr. Jordan and his family that justice was served".

Jam Master Jay's murder occurred on October 30, 2002, in his recording studio in Hollis, Queens. The case remained unsolved for nearly two decades until arrests were made in 2020. In February 2024, Karl Jordan Jr. and Ronald Washington were found guilty of murder while engaged in a narcotics trafficking conspiracy and firearm-related murder. A third individual, Jay Bryant, has also been charged in connection with Mizell's murder and is scheduled to be tried separately in January 2026. Prosecutors had alleged that Mizell was killed as a result of being cut out of a cocaine distribution deal.

The overturning of Jordan's conviction marks another twist in a case that has captivated and confounded the hip-hop world for over two decades.