Jam Master Jay: Third Man Arrested In The Shooting Case Of Run-DMC Legend

It’s been over 20 years since the tragic death of Run DMC legend Jam Master Jay, born Jason William Mizell. The case has gone unsolved, although there have been several arrests in recent years. This week, the New York Times reports that a third individual has been taken into custody in relation to the shooting. Police charged Queens resident, Jay Bryant, 49, with murder while engaged in narcotics trafficking, in addition to other drug-related charges. His attorney, César de Castro, pleaded not guilty on behalf of his client to the latest charges. However, Bryant has been in police custody on unrelated drug charges. 

Jam Master Jay was shot and killed at the age of 37 in a recording studio in Jamaica, Queens. In the arrest of Jay Bryant, prosecutors alleged that he was spotted, along with two other men, entering the building where the studio was moments before the legendary Run DMC star was shot in the head. Additionally, law officials claim that clothing with Bryant’s DNA was identified at the crime scene. However, de Castro insisted that proving Bryant’s guilt will be difficult during trial. “Securing an indictment in a secret grand jury, applying an extremely low burden of proof, is one thing,” he said. “Proving it at trial is another matter.”

Read More: Feds Detail BMF Co-Founder Southwest T’s Alleged Involvement In Jam Master Jay’s Murder: Report

Third Arrest In Jam Master Jay’s Arrest

Jam Master Jay, Darryl McDaniels aka DMC and Reverend Run of the hip hop group "Run DMC" attend 30th Annual Grammy Awards.
(Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

The arrest of Jay Bryant comes three years after police apprehended two other individuals in connection to his death. Karl Jordan Jr. and Ronald Washington were charged with a similar charge of murder while drug trafficking. However, NBC News reports that Bryant allegedly claimed to be the shooter. Still, there are doubts about the supposed admission, according to a detention memo. Instead, they believe that the evidence introduced at the upcoming trial will indicate that Jordan Jr. shot twice from close range.

Following the 2020 indictment of Washington and Jordan Jr., the office of the prosecutors stated that the murder of Jam Master Jay was related to a “previous acquisition of 10 kilograms of cocaine.” They claimed that Washington, Jordan, and “other co-conspirators” was supposed to distribute the cocaine in Maryland. “Mizell had recently informed Washington that the defendant would not be involved in distributing the narcotics in Maryland, which precipitated the murder conspiracy,” prosecutors said. 

Read More: Jam Master Jay’s Family Speaks About Arrests: “We Have Mixed Emotions”

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King Von Accused Of Snitching On FBG Butta’s Role In Odee Perry Murder

Even years after his death, King Von continues to remain on the mind of his ops. He’s been linked to no shortage of criminal activity post-mortem, but according to Chicago rapper FBG Butta, the late lyricist once snitched on him regarding the murder of Odee Perry. Obviously, Von is no longer with us to substantiate these claims, however, the alleged killer sounded confident in his story when telling it online last week.

“He and his brothers told me for slappin’ they homie,” Butta yelled during an Instagram Live argument with two others recently. “Send me the paperwork,” another person in the chat demanded, speaking over the FBG artist as hundreds of comments poured in from enticed viewers. “I don’t speak on that shit, them n*ggas told on me, he continued to rant. “Them n*ggas told told!” Much of what comes after is incomprehensible, but as many social media users are pointing out, Butta may have told on himself with his next statement.

Read More: King Von Would’ve Been Indicted In 2019 Shooting, Fulton County DA Says

FBG Butta Says King Von Snitched About Odee Perry Murder

“They gave me 192 years for killin’ a muthaf*cka and I blamed it on my dead sister,” he proudly declared amid the chaos. Now that footage from the live is circulating online, reactions continue to pour in. “This n*gga just told on himself 💀,” one person wrote on @nojumper’s post. “Is it REALLY snitching if you lie on the opps tho?… 😂😂😂😂,” another user asked. Elsewhere, someone praised Von for his ability to stay under people’s skins posthumously. “You know your name holds weight when you are still a problem after you die 💯,” they praised the embattled artist.

Born Dayvon Daquan Bennett, the “Crazy Story” hitmaker lost his life at age 26 in Atlanta during a November 2020 shooting. He left behind three children, former lovers, and plenty of friends and fans. The altercation resulting in his demise was with members of Quando Rondo’s crew, and ultimately saw one more death as well as injuries sustained by six others. Do you believe FBG Butta’s snitching allegations about King Von? Let us know in the comments, and tap back in later for more hip-hop/pop culture news updates.

Read More: King Von’s Mom Shares Touching High School Photos

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Pop Smoke Murderer Confesses To Killing Him

Pop Smoke was an up and coming rapper from Brooklyn, New York. At the age of 20, he was killed. At the time, it was reported that he was shot during a home invasion at his residence in Hollywood Hills. Pop Smoke was declared dead on February 19th, 2020 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in West Hollywood. The Los Angeles County Coroner’s office then determined that Pop Smoke died from a gunshot wound to the torso. The suspects involved in the shooting remained at large for months. Then, in July 2020, five people were taken into custody.

Pop Smoke was recognized as a leading figure of the Brooklyn drill scene, hailing from the Canarsie neighborhood in Brooklyn. He gained widespread attention in 2019 after releasing his hit single “Welcome to the Party” and subsequently released two mixtapes, Meet the Woo and Meet the Woo Vol. 2. His song even received remixes from Nicki Minaj and Skepta. Additionally, he collaborated with Travis Scott on “GATTI” for the JACKBOYS label compilation released in 2019. He had a bright future ahead of him before it was snuffed out.

Read More: Pop Smoke’s Best Songs

Pop Smoke’s Killer Was Just A Kid

Pop Smoke performs at the Soulfrito Music Festival at Barclays Center.
(Photo by Arik Mazur/Getty Images)

According to the Los Angeles Times, there has finally been a confession in the case of Pop Smoke’s murder. A teenager has admitted to killing the artist. The culprit was 15 years old at the time of a home invasion robbery that resulted in the death of the rapper in February 2020. The teen also confessed to other charges related to the robbery. The defendant’s identity has not been disclosed due to being a minor at the time of the crime, and he was charged in juvenile court. He could remain in custody until he turns 25.

Earlier this year, the same case saw a 20-year-old defendant plead guilty to voluntary manslaughter. At the time of the shooting, the defendant was 17 years old and faced charges as a juvenile. Law enforcement officials arrested five individuals in July 2020 for breaking into the Airbnb where Pop Smoke was temporarily staying. Two of the individuals, Keandre Rodgers and Corey Walker, are still facing murder charges in the case, and could potentially receive the death penalty if convicted. Another individual was arrested in connection with the robbery, but was not charged.

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Five Dead In Texas “Execution Style” Shooting, Suspect Still At Large

Five people, including an eight-year-old boy, have reportedly been killed at a house in Cleveland, Texas. According to early police reports, the five victims, who are believed to be related, were shot “execution-style” inside their home. Additionally, the suspect, who is currently at-large, is believed to live in a neighboring house.

Police were called to the residence, about 55 miles north of Houston, at 11:31pm on April 28. The call was initially in response to a harassment complaint about an individual discharging a firearm on a neighboring property. The caller, who is believed to be one of the victims, had reportedly asked the individual to stop, as there was a baby asleep in the house. The suspect had reportedly said he could do what he wanted in his own yard. Additionally, a video doorbell camera later caught the suspect entering the house with a rifle.

Suspect In Texas Killings Armed And At-Large

However, police found a horrific scene when they arrived at the property. Inside the house, they found five victims who had been shot above the neck in what police are calling “execution style”. The youngest victim was just eight years old. Beneath the bodies of two deceased women located in an upstairs bedroom, police found three minors who had survived the killing. Furthermore, The victims were members of a 10-person household of Honduran heritage. All victims were killed using a .223 AR-15-style weapon. Additionally, more weapons were found inside the victim’s house.

Police believe that the suspect, who was reported to be intoxicated at the time of the 911 call, entered the house soon after being confronted about the discharging of his firearm. The suspect, who has not been named, has been described as a Hispanic male and a Mexican national. Additionally, other neighbors have reported that firearm discharge was a common part of life in the town. Police have warned that the suspect is armed and may no longer be in the Cleveland area. Furthermore, he is approximately 5-foot-8 and last seen wearing blue jeans with a black shirt and work boots and is described as having short black hair. You can contact the San Jacinto County Sheriff’s Office at (936) 653-4367.

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LA Rapper MoneySign Suede Killed In Prison

Los Angeles-based rapper MoneySign Suede has been killed. The rapper, whose real name was Jaime Brugada Valdez, was only 22 years old. He was serving a prison sentence for gun charges. According to reports, Suede was stabbed to death while taking a shower. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) released a statement about the incident. In it, they said that Suede was found unresponsive with injuries indicating a homicide. His attorney, Nicholas Rosenberg, who was notified on Tuesday evening of the news, expressed shock. According to him, the rapper was well-liked. He had, however, he had previously been attacked while in prison. “They said it was a stabbing to the neck,” Rosenberg said. “They said they’re investigating.”

For the time being, the correctional facility said it is limiting prisoners’ movement within the prison in order to aid the investigation. In the facility where Suede was incarcerated, there were more than 4,000 other inmates. That number comprised both minimum and medium security prisoners. No leads have been released as of yet, so there is very little indication of who might have wanted Suede dead.

Suede Had Been Sentenced To 32 Months

According to reports, MoneySign Suede was serving a 32-month sentence at the facility for gun charges. The LA Times spoke to another inmate at the facility after the incident who asked to remain anonymous. However, he was able to give some insight into the atmosphere after the stabbing. The prisoner said that the news began to spread early Wednesday morning. In response, parts of the facility were shut down and breakfast was delayed. According to the unnamed inmate, Suede was housed in the general population, which is unusual for a popular rapper.

MoneySign Suede’s rise to fame started when he was just 18 years old. His track “Back To The Bag” earned him quite a bit of attention. Eventually, he ended up signing with Atlantic Records. Last September, Suede released his latest album Parkside Baby. Unfortunately, no one had any idea the record would be his last. Stay tuned for more updates about MoneySign Suede’s tragic passing. Let us know what you think in the comments below.

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Kawhi Leonard’s Sister Sentenced To Life In Prison For Murder

Kawhi Leonard’s sister, Kimesha Williams, has been sentenced to life in prison without parole for the murder of an elderly woman in a Southern California casino in 2019. Williams ambushed 84-year-old Afaf Assad in the bathroom of the casino to rob her of a purse containing approximately $1,000 for gambling while her friend, Candace Townsel, kept watch. Assad was later found bleeding on the floor with a fractured skull. She died four days later.

“This has been a long, painful journey through the criminal court justice system,” Assad’s daughter, Mary, said in the victim impact statement, according to the report. “I still can’t believe my mother was the victim of a violent crime. … Part of me died in that hospital room with her. My father is without his wife and partner and is isolated and alone in a way we cannot begin to understand … We seek not vengeance but there needs to be a reckoning for their heinous act.”

Kawhi Leonard Playing For The Clippers

PHOENIX, ARIZONA – APRIL 16: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers handles the ball during the first half Game. One of the Western Conference First Round Playoffs against the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center on April 16, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Kimesha Williams argued that she did not kill Assad in a statement read in court by her attorney. “I am so sorry for your loss,” Williams’ statement read. She added: “I have been praying for you and your family every day. I am not responsible for the death of Mrs. Assad. Although the courts have found me guilty of the charges, we all know the truth, and that there is one judge, and that is God, and that he knows the truth.”

Leonard has not commented on the sentencing. He’s currently sitting out of the Clippers’ first-round playoff series against the Phoenix Suns due to a knee injury. Without Leonard, the Clippers are currently down 3-1 in the series to the Suns. The 31-year-old star scored 38 and 31 points in the first two games of the series. It is unclear when Leonard will be able to return to the court.

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Bob Lee Murdered: What We Know

Bob Lee founded CashApp while affiliated with Square (Block) as Chief Technology Officer. Lee had previously worked as a Google Engineer before joining Square to develop the Android app, originally “Square Cash.” Further irradiating his dossier is the fact that he helped WHO develop its app during the Covid-19 pandemic. He did awesome things in his lifetime, so his death aroused agonizing curiosity. What killed Lee was the very fear he had just escaped. He had relocated to Miami based on the increased crime and was only visiting San Francisco when someone stabbed him.

The Attack

A surveillance video displayed bits of his pre-death struggle. The incident occurred early morning in the San Francisco’s Rincon Hill neighborhood. Following the stabbing, Lee was walking, injured, and bleeding along the street. The footage also showed him seeking help from a Toyota Camry owner by showing him his stab wounds. The person behind the wheel wasn’t helpful, leaving Lee to bleed out in the street.

Reports also revealed that Lee called 911 at 2:34 a.m. screaming, “Help, someone stabbed me!” In a police scanner audio, a dispatcher alerted responding officers, quoting Lee’s SOS. “He’s bleeding out,” she added. Upon arrival, the police found him in excruciating pain, suffering from two fatal wounds to the chest. They rushed him to San Francisco General Hospital, where he sadly passed away.

Bob Lee Succumbs To His Injuries

There are many questions flooding people’s minds about this unfortunate occurrence. People have expressed their condolences despite being paper-blank about the stabbing itself. Josh Goldbard, CEO of MobileCoin, highlighted his memory of Lee while confirming his death. He described him as a “dynamo,” “a force of nature,” and “the genuine article.” Rick Lee, the bereaved father, equally put out his brief eulogy, referring to his son as his “best friend.”

He wrote on Facebook: “Bob would give you the shirt off his back.” He recounted his late son’s touching worldview as adhering to a “strict no-judgment philosophy.” There’s no denying it: Bob Lee was a kind genius. Everyone who knew him personally acknowledged that, emphatically.

Bob Lee Gone: More Reactions

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – APRIL 7: Flowers and cards left as people paying tribute to Bob Lee near the Portside apartment building in San Francisco, California, United States on April 7, 2023. Bob Lee, the American technology entrepreneur who cofounded Cash App, the mobile payment service provider, was stabbed to death in the US city of San Francisco on Wednesday. (Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

San Francisco Mayor, London Breed, has referred to the painful death as a “horrible tragedy.” She also promised more details from the police following a thorough investigation. Not all could have been as close to the deceased as his father, but he certainly crossed note-worthy paths. “It’s so hard to believe he is gone,” Figma CEO Dylan Field tweeted. He recollected his sweet experience meeting Lee in 2006.

MMA fighter Jake Shields also called Bob Lee a “loyal friend” in a tweet that captured Elon Musk’s attention. “Many people I know have been severely assaulted,” Musk lamented. He went on to qualify crime in San Francisco as “horrific,” further tagging Brooke Jenkins, San Francisco District Attorney. Musk’s comment is congruous with sparked concerns about safety in the Bay Area.

Block phenom, Jack Dorsey, posted on Nostr: “Bob was instrumental to Square and Cash App,” bemoaning the “heartbreaking” death. On the more formal side of the ongoing sympathy, the SFPD chief has remarked on current investigations. He told CBS News that it was too early to determine whether it was a targeted or random attack accurately. He also indicated he was withholding some information due to ethical caution. He was confident his officers would come through on their assurance to solve the homicide.

What Does This Mean For FinTech?

The tragic death of Bob Lee has gone beyond further exposing San Francisco’s crime surge. It has put MobileCoin Inc. in the spotlight. Before the news, the Frisco-based startup was relatively unknown. The last thing MobileCoin needed was sudden attention in addition to mourning one of its best brains. Undoubtedly, the tech world as a universal set is united in grief. We should, however, be concerned about the subsequent stand of the private-crypto trend. Will Bob Lee’s successor be able to follow in his mature and anodyne footsteps? We might not know it yet, but the deceased tech giant could have been FinTech’s shield card.

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