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The decades-long legal saga surrounding the murder of Run-DMC legend Jam Master Jay has taken another dramatic turn, as Karl Jordan Jr. is now pushing for release on a $1 million bond after a federal judge tossed out his murder conviction — even as prosecutors fight to reinstate it.
Jordan’s attorneys filed a motion Friday arguing that his acquittal in the high-profile killing represents what they called “seismic changes in circumstances” that justify his release from custody. The 42-year-old, who is the godson of the late hip-hop pioneer, is requesting to be released under strict conditions that include electronic monitoring while the government appeals the ruling. So far, no hearing date has been scheduled, and prosecutors have declined to publicly comment on the request.
Jordan and co-defendant Ronald Washington were both convicted in February 2024 for the 2002 killing of Jam Master Jay — born Jason Mizell — inside his Queens recording studio. The case shocked the music world and remained unsolved for nearly two decades before federal charges were finally brought.
However, in a major reversal last December, U.S. District Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall ruled that prosecutors failed to present enough evidence to support Jordan’s conviction. In a 29-page decision, Hall vacated the jury’s verdict and formally acquitted Jordan while upholding Washington’s conviction.
Federal prosecutors alleged that Jordan and Washington murdered Mizell over a drug dispute, claiming the pair felt cut out of a lucrative Baltimore cocaine operation allegedly being organized by the Run-DMC DJ. While eyewitness testimony placed Jordan at the scene and alleged he fired the fatal shot, Hall determined the government never proved he had a motive to kill his godfather.
“The court is not convinced,” Hall wrote in her ruling. “There is simply no evidence suggesting that Jordan felt cheated by the failure of the Baltimore deal.”
Despite his acquittal in the murder case, Jordan remains behind bars due to separate federal drug charges filed years after Mizell’s death. He has pleaded not guilty, though both sides have acknowledged that plea discussions are ongoing.
Jordan’s legal team also cited safety concerns tied to his continued detention. According to court filings, he was stabbed 18 times in the back during an inmate altercation inside Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center last February. His attorneys say the attack left him with lasting physical and emotional trauma. During a recent court appearance, Judge Hall reportedly acknowledged the severity of the incident, telling Jordan, “It shouldn’t have happened to you. It shouldn’t have happened to anyone.”
Meanwhile, prosecutors are pressing forward with their appeal of Jordan’s acquittal, ensuring the case remains far from closed.
