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CNN Live At Daybreak
Run-DMC Killing Under Investigation
Aired October 31, 2002 - 06:08 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Let's turn our attention again to the killing of entertainer Jam Master Jay of the rap group Run-DMC. Police say the entertainer was shot execution-style in a Queens' recording studio.
Reporter Jeff Rossen of WABC of New York is in Queens.
Jeff -- bring us up-to-date.
JEFF ROSSEN, CNN AFFILIATE WABC REPORTER: Police say this was no accident. In fact, they say the gunman was hunting Jam Master Jay down and found him late last night at this recording studio where he was working.
Two suspects, we understand, buzzed themselves in right down here where the officers are standing. Then, they both went upstairs to that second floor, where the blinds are drawn. That's where Jam Master Jay was working with another group.
Apparently, the shooter pushed another singer inside just to get to Jam Master Jay, shot him once in the head, killing him instantly. And now, cops are searching for the killer.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROSSEN (voice-over): Jam Master Jay was 37 years old. His real name, Jason Mizell, grew up in Hollis, Queens, a man who took center stage with a master-style on the turntables, an art called scratching.
The music, the innovation that made him a star all died last night, when a man was buzzed into his second-floor recording studio on Merrick Boulevard. By one account, the gunman came into the studio lounge and pushed aside another singer, just to get a clear shot. He fired at least twice, hitting Jay in the head and killing him instantly. . A second man was wounded, but police say, he may have been hit by ricocheting bullets.
After the shooting, fans and friends gathered outside in the rain, crying and mourning together.
Fellow rappers, like Dr. Dray and Chuck D were there.
Mizell was a popular man, upbeat in his public appearances.
JAM MASTER JAY, RAP SINGER: We are together because of love, because we love each other. A lot of people don't understand about love. Love is the key to everything, you know, like God is love.
ROSSEN: Run-DMC was the first rap group nominated for a Grammy, the first rap group to sell more than a million albums, and the first to crack Billboard's Top 10; here, appearing with Aerosmith.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROSSEN: Live picture back at the scene, and you can see fans have been out here all night, leaving candles. And as we come back up, you can see they're leaving a lot of posters and flowers as well.
This is from the Web site, where different fans are writing in from across the country, some right here in the New York City area, writing how much they'll miss him. Someone brought a "rest in peace" poster as well.
As for the investigation, police aren't sure who the suspect is, a very sketchy description from witnesses on the scene. They say it is a young black male, either wearing a white sweatsuit or a white sweatshirt, but so far, no one in custody.
In Jamaica, Queens, Jeff Rossen for CNN -- back to you.
COSTELLO: All right, Jeff Rossen, thank you very much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
Aired October 31, 2002 - 06:08 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Let's turn our attention again to the killing of entertainer Jam Master Jay of the rap group Run-DMC. Police say the entertainer was shot execution-style in a Queens' recording studio.
Reporter Jeff Rossen of WABC of New York is in Queens.
Jeff -- bring us up-to-date.
JEFF ROSSEN, CNN AFFILIATE WABC REPORTER: Police say this was no accident. In fact, they say the gunman was hunting Jam Master Jay down and found him late last night at this recording studio where he was working.
Two suspects, we understand, buzzed themselves in right down here where the officers are standing. Then, they both went upstairs to that second floor, where the blinds are drawn. That's where Jam Master Jay was working with another group.
Apparently, the shooter pushed another singer inside just to get to Jam Master Jay, shot him once in the head, killing him instantly. And now, cops are searching for the killer.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROSSEN (voice-over): Jam Master Jay was 37 years old. His real name, Jason Mizell, grew up in Hollis, Queens, a man who took center stage with a master-style on the turntables, an art called scratching.
The music, the innovation that made him a star all died last night, when a man was buzzed into his second-floor recording studio on Merrick Boulevard. By one account, the gunman came into the studio lounge and pushed aside another singer, just to get a clear shot. He fired at least twice, hitting Jay in the head and killing him instantly. . A second man was wounded, but police say, he may have been hit by ricocheting bullets.
After the shooting, fans and friends gathered outside in the rain, crying and mourning together.
Fellow rappers, like Dr. Dray and Chuck D were there.
Mizell was a popular man, upbeat in his public appearances.
JAM MASTER JAY, RAP SINGER: We are together because of love, because we love each other. A lot of people don't understand about love. Love is the key to everything, you know, like God is love.
ROSSEN: Run-DMC was the first rap group nominated for a Grammy, the first rap group to sell more than a million albums, and the first to crack Billboard's Top 10; here, appearing with Aerosmith.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROSSEN: Live picture back at the scene, and you can see fans have been out here all night, leaving candles. And as we come back up, you can see they're leaving a lot of posters and flowers as well.
This is from the Web site, where different fans are writing in from across the country, some right here in the New York City area, writing how much they'll miss him. Someone brought a "rest in peace" poster as well.
As for the investigation, police aren't sure who the suspect is, a very sketchy description from witnesses on the scene. They say it is a young black male, either wearing a white sweatsuit or a white sweatshirt, but so far, no one in custody.
In Jamaica, Queens, Jeff Rossen for CNN -- back to you.
COSTELLO: All right, Jeff Rossen, thank you very much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
