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The murder of the legendary DJ Jam Master Jay is still seen as one of hip-hop’s most tragic unsolved cases. The famed Run-DMC member was gunned down at a Queens, N.Y. recording studio back in 2002. While security footage shows two figures being buzzed into the studio and one hugging Jay before shooting him in the head at close range, the crime remains unsolved.
Reports also show four other people were in the studio at the time of the shooting, but none have come forward with any information that could help find the killers. With no new leads or developments in some time, the murder has been designated a cold case by the New York Police Department, according to The Associated Press.
Friends and family of the slain DJ offer differing perspectives on whether or not the case will be solved. “It’s not resolved to the legal eye, but the street always talks,” saidJeremy “JL” Lam who was a friend of Jay’s. But others have come to terms with the fact that no one has come forward to bring those who’ve committed the crime to justice. “We know it’s an anniversary, but we don’t like to talk about it much anymore,” said Jay’s older sister, Bonita Jones.
With no leads in sight, the music community continues to honor the pioneering DJ long after his death. He was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame in 2009 and was given his own shoe by longtime collaborator Adidas. His sons, Jam Master J’son and TJ Mizell, continue the family’s legacy in the DJ world.
