Jam Master Jay Murder Remains Unsolved Amidst "Drug" Controversy

[bigted]

http://www.sohh.com/articles/article.php/7757

SOHH Exclusive: 3 Years Later, Jam Master Jay Murder Remains Unsolved Amidst "Drug" Controversy

Friday - October 28, 2005 by Dark Kent

Sunday (October 30) marks the third "anniversary" of the murder of Jam Master Jay. In this SOHH.com exclusive, questions are raised about the current state of the investigation into the legendary DJ's death and his family speaks out about how he is portrayed in a new book.

Jam Master Jay, member of the legendary hip-hop group Run-DMC was killed October 30, 2002 in Jamaica, Queens at the age of 37. According to police reports, Jay was in the studio working on music with another artist when an assailant entered the studio and fired shots hitting Jay in the head and another man, Urieco Rincon, in the leg. Jay was rushed to the hospital and pronounced dead shortly after his arrival.

A source close to the case recently revealed exclusively to SOHH.com that Ronald "Tinard" Washington, a convicted felon, was granted a "sweet plea deal" in exchange for his testimony against Karl "Big Dee" Jordan, whom he claimed he witnessed entering the studio prior to hearing shots ring out. According to Washington, Jordan was accompanied by his son who was accused of shooting rapper Boe Skagz, Jay's nephew, in the spring of 2004.

Despite Washington's testimony, no arrests have been made in the case. According to a 2003 Stuff Magazine article, Jordan has been a confidential informant for the New York Police Department for the last 20 years. According to our source, Jordan is also a "close friend" of Russell Simmons. Meanwhile, the charges against Jordan's son have since been dismissed and the case sealed despite Skagz (born Rodney Jones) positively identifying him to police as his assailant.

Skagz was among those interviewed for Ethan Brown's controversial new book, Queens Reigns Supreme: Fat Cat, 50 Cent, and the Rise of the Hip-Hop Hustler. The book, which shows how the streets and housing projects of Southeast Queens influenced the borough's most prominent emcees, documents 25 years, starting with the crack era until Jay's murder and the ongoing feud between Ja Rule and 50 Cent.

The book, which is already shockwaves through the music industry, has now caught the attention of Jam Master Jay's family. The Mizell family has expressed outrage over allegations of Jay's involvement with the drug trade as reported in a "Page Six" item in last Monday's New York Post.

The item, which focused on Queens Reigns Supreme, claims Jay (born Jason Mizell) was involved in drug activity in Baltimore. According to the Mizell family, these and similar allegations had been previously examined by law enforcement as part of Jay's murder case and were determined to be false. Investigators further confirm that the Brown, book's author, never contacted them to discuss his claims or any information about Jay or the case.

According to the Mizell family, Connie Mizell-Perry, Jay's mother, and Marvin Thompson, Jay's brother, both of whom have maintained constant contact with investigators during the course of the murder probe, reacted with "disgust"over this "rehash of rumors and claims made about Jason during this investigation which have been confirmed to be untrue," and what is an attempt by the book's author to "resurrect and link Jason's good name to 3-year old

rumors [in order] to sell a book.

They continued to say via a statement, "Jason hated drugs and the way they destroyed the lives of so many young people and families in our communities. He was never involved with drugs, and many people who know him have related countless stories to us about how he helped them get off drugs and out of the business.50 Cent's story, which he talks about in his book which is out now, is one of the most notable examples. If you want to know the truth, read 50's book."

They also express outrage over Brown's inclusion of this information in a book without confirming the accuracy of his claims with those in the know, and view his actions asdetrimental to the efforts of law enforcement to resolve this crime.

Mizell-Perry, Thompson and the Jam Master Jay Foundation for Youth are demanding that the publisher of Queens Reigns Supreme, Anchor Books, remove any and all false information about Jay from this soon-to-be published book before its release.

"We see this as a clear attempt by the author to exploit Jason's name with the media to focus attention on himself," said the Mizell family, "And [an attempt] to malign Jason's good name with his fans and public by manufacturing controversy to make money from his death. We will not stand for it."

In response, Brown told SOHH.com: "While I understand the desire for Jam Master Jay's family to defend and protect him, I (and Anchor Books) feel that the reporting done supports the information and allegations in Queens Reigns Supreme. I hope the Mizell family sees things differently once they read the book and see how Jay is portrayed in it."

[sonic1988]

I think this will become a cold case.

[J-o-e]

I thought it already had, If they had any chances of catching the killer I think they would of found him in the first week. Think about it he could be In Mexico drinking Tequila shots under the sun for gods sake!

[mfuqua23]

"If you want to know the truth, read 50's book." - see, and people front on 50. Perhaps, there is more than meets the eye.