NEW YORK (AP) — A federal judge has temporarily blocked the release of a man recently acquitted in the murder of Run-DMC’s Jam Master Jay, as prosecutors challenge his potential freedom on a $1 million bond.
Karl Jordan Jr. was scheduled to be released as early as Friday, but federal prosecutors filed an appeal against the judge’s decision to grant him bond with electronic monitoring. The judge agreed Friday to suspend the release while the appeal process moves forward.
Attorneys for Jordan have not responded to requests for comment, while prosecutors have declined to provide statements on the matter.
Both Jordan and co-defendant Ronald Washington were found guilty in 2024 for the killing of the legendary DJ, more than twenty years after Jam Master Jay was shot to death inside his recording studio. Both defendants had entered not guilty pleas.
In December, a judge reversed Jordan’s conviction and declared him not guilty, while maintaining Washington’s guilty verdict.
Federal prosecutors contend that Jordan should stay incarcerated while they challenge his acquittal and as he faces separate drug-related charges in court. Jordan has entered a not guilty plea to those additional charges.
Defense attorneys for the 42-year-old argue he deserves bond, particularly after suffering severe injuries in a stabbing incident at Brooklyn’s federal detention facility. Jordan’s legal team states that family members have volunteered to guarantee the bond and pledge properties representing their entire assets.
Jam Master Jay, whose real name was Jason Mizell, along with his Run-DMC bandmates, played a pivotal role in bringing hip-hop music to mainstream audiences during the 1980s with popular tracks like “It’s Tricky” and their collaboration with Aerosmith on “Walk This Way.”
