Witness to Shooting Death of Run-DMC Member Jam Master Jay Points to Accused Killer in Court

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By Kyle Schnitzer

A friend who witnessed famed Run-DMC member Jam Master Jay being shot to death in his Queens recording studio pointed out the accused killer in court Wednesday while describing the long-unsolved crime.

Uriel “Tony” Rincón remained silent for more than two decades, until he took the stand in federal court in Brooklyn and told the jury that Jay, whose real name was Jason Mizell, was shot to death by his godson, Karl Jordan Jr. ., on October 30. , 2002.

“I heard a couple of gunshots,” Rincon said. “I see Jay fall because he had his back to me at the time. “As Jay fell, I saw Jordan shaking him off.”

Jordan, 39, and Ronald Washington, 59, are charged with murder while participating in a narcotics trafficking conspiracy.

Rincon told Deputy Prosecutor Mark Misorek that he and Mizell, who had a .380-caliber handgun resting on the armrest of a couch, were playing the soccer video game “Madden” at DJ’s 24/7 Studio on Merrick Boulevard when they arrived.

Jordan, whose nickname is “Little D,” walked straight through the door toward Mizell and offered him a “half-handshake” before shots rang out, leaving the musician with a fatal head wound, Rincón said.

“(Mizell) essentially fell on him and Little D had to get him off of him,” Rincon testified, adding that he suffered a gunshot wound to his left leg during the fight.

Rincon, who worked with Mizell in his studio, testified that he recognized Jordan, who was Mizell’s godson, from his profile and neck tattoo on the night of the shooting.

Jordan and Washington, who guarded the door, held a hysterical Lydia Hyde, Mizell’s “right-hand woman” and friend, who is also expected to testify, at the door before running away, Rincon said on the stand.

Prosecutors have alleged that Porter and Washington’s ambush of Mizell was fueled by “greed and revenge” after the couple was scammed in a drug deal in Baltimore.

Rincón said he feared for his and his mother’s safety after the incident, and explained why he repeatedly told authorities that he did not know who shot and killed the famous musician.

He finally admitted on May 2, 2017 that Jordan was the alleged killer and said Mizell’s family deserved to know the truth.

“I felt like (Mizell’s) wife and kids needed closure and needed to know what happened,” he testified.

Jordan’s attorney, Mark DeMarco, attempted to press Rincón to explain why he continued to lie to police and federal authorities for years, including telling police at the hospital the night of the murder that he had not recognized the shooter.

Rincón had described the shooter differently at least twice to authorities, according to DeMarco.

“I was scared and couldn’t believe what I saw,” Rincón explained.

Rincon also revealed that Jordan allegedly approached him and his mother at Mizell’s funeral at Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale and played dumb about the murder.

“(He) asked me who did it,” Rincón testified. “I felt like he was investigating if he saw it.”