New plea ties suspect to Jam Master Jay’s 2002 murder

Nearly 25 years after Jam Master Jay’s 2002 killing, Bryant pleaded guilty to a federal murder charge, saying he helped others gain entry to a Queens recording studio to ambush the Run-DMC DJ; prosecutors tied him to the case with DNA on a hat and witness testimony, though he did not name the other participants. Earlier, Karl Jordan Jr. and Ronald Washington were convicted (Jordan later cleared) and Washington has challenged his conviction. Bryant faces an estimated 15–20 years for murder plus related drug and gun charges, with no sentencing date set.