One of the individuals charged in connection with the murder of Jam Master Jay from Run-DMC is reportedly contemplating changing his plea. This potential decision would mark the first acknowledgment in court of involvement in the 2002 death of the renowned Run-DMC star.

Jam Master Jay, born Jason William Mizell, was fatally shot on October 30, 2002, around 7:30 PM at his music studio on Merrick Boulevard in Jamaica, Queens, NY. Jay Bryant initially pleaded not guilty to the murder charge following his indictment in 2023. However, recent court records indicate that both his attorney and federal prosecutors are in discussions about a potential plea deal.

A court docket entry on Thursday suggested that Bryant is planning to alter his plea, although no specifics were provided regarding the charge, the conduct he might admit to, or the possible repercussions. No timeline has been set for the plea change, and prosecutors have declined to comment at this time, while inquiries to Bryant’s lawyer remain unanswered.

It is important to note that a notice of intent to change a plea is subject to reversal, as defendants can modify their decision even during court proceedings. Should Bryant proceed with the plea change, it could add a layer of resolution and complexity to the intricate case that has unfolded.

While Bryant’s co-defendants Karl Jordan Jr. and Ronald Washington were previously convicted by a jury, Jordan’s conviction was later overturned by a judge, leaving Bryant’s case with a unique trajectory.

Bryant was indicted nearly three years after the others based on the discovery of his DNA on a hat found at the music studio crime scene. Jam Master Jay, known for his role as the DJ in Run-DMC, played a significant part in elevating rap music into the mainstream during the 1980s with hits like “It’s Tricky” and a rendition of Aerosmith’s “Walk This Way.”

Prosecutors had alleged that Jordan and Washington, who had close ties to Mizell, targeted him due to a dispute over a failed drug transaction. Testimonies and evidence presented during the trial suggested that Jordan shot the DJ while Washington facilitated the attack and ordered an associate of Mizell to lie down during the incident. Both Jordan and Washington denied these accusations.

Unlike Jordan and Washington, Bryant had minimal connections to the late rap icon. Testimonies in court indicated a shared acquaintance between Bryant and the other two defendants, but it remained unclear if Bryant had ever met Mizell.

The prosecution claimed that Bryant enabled Jordan and Washington to enter the studio undetected by opening a rear fire door for them to launch the assault on the DJ. Additionally, Bryant’s uncle alleged that Bryant confessed to shooting Mizell in self-defense after Mizell allegedly reached for a weapon. However, none of the witnesses corroborated Bryant’s presence at the studio, and the prosecution disputed the uncle’s version of events, despite his cooperation with them.

Court documents revealed that neither Washington’s nor Jordan’s DNA was found on the hat linked to the crime scene. An argument was made by one of Jordan’s attorneys, Michael Hueston, suggesting that the charges against Bryant cast doubt on the case against Jordan, leading to the eventual overturning of Jordan’s conviction on separate grounds.

At the time of his indictment in Mizell’s death, Bryant, now 52, was already in custody on federal charges related to drugs and firearms. Subsequently, he pleaded guilty to the drug and weapon charges and is currently awaiting sentencing.