Opening statements are scheduled in Brooklyn federal court for the murder trial of Karl Jordan Jr. and Ronald Washington, who prosecutors say killed the 37-year-old Jay over a drug deal in 2002.
Run-DMC espoused an anti-drug stance in lyrics and PSAs, but prosecutors allege Jay became involved in trafficking cocaine in the mid 1990s.
Prior to his murder, they say he had acquired 10 kilograms (22 pounds) of the drug, which Washington, Jordan and others were going to distribute in Maryland.
Prosecutors say witnesses have now identified both Washington, 59, and Jordan, 40, as the assailants.
They say Jordan, then 18, was at his pregnant girlfriend’s home at the time of the murder and witnesses can place him there.
Persons:
Jay, Karl Jordan Jr, Ronald Washington, Jason Mizell, Joe “, ” Simmons, Darryl “, ” McDaniels, Tricky ”, Jordan, ”
Organizations:
New York City
Locations:
New, Brooklyn, Queens, Washington, Jordan, Maryland, Jamaica, , Washington