No Bond for Man Charged in Violent Spree, with More Charges Likely

Chicago - A man charged with murdering his ex-girlfriend and shooting his father before holding up a Far South Side strip club was denied bond Monday and may face additional charges for killing a second ex-girlfriend.

James Amison, 37, of 5000 block of South Bishop Street, was charged Sunday night with the murder of his ex-girlfriend Stephanie Reed and armed robbery, according to Chicago Police.

He is also charged with one count of attempted first-degree murder, according to Cook County State's Attorney's office spokeswoman Tandra Simonton, who said Amison did not appear in court Monday but was denied bond by Judge James Brown. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 4.

Amison is also suspected of killing 38-year-old Tashika Smith, who was found strangled to death early Sunday in south suburban Steger just hours after Reed's death on the West Side. Murder charges are expected to be filed in Smith's death later Monday, Steger police Chief Richard Stultz said.

Through ballistics analysis, a bullet recovered from Reed's body matched the handgun recovered from Amison after his arrest, Simonton said, citing court records. Amison later admitted killing Reed, prosecutors claim.

Amison was arrested at 2 a.m. Saturday at The Factory, a strip club at 12054 S. Doty Ave., according to Chicago police.

Amison, who has an extensive criminal record including aggravated kidnapping and armed robbery, was taken to an area hospital after being shot in his lower left leg by someone at the club, according to a police source.

Police said Amison remained at a hospital early Monday.

Amison went to his 53-year-old father’s home at 1618 S. 19th Ave. in Maywood at 12:20 a.m. Saturday and shot him in the neck with a firearm, according to court records. The shooting left his father paralyzed from the neck down.

According to witness and post-arrest statements, Amison shot his father because he believed his father was having an affair with his wife.

According to Maywood Police Chief Tim Curry, the suspect allegedly pushed past a female relative and went straight to the bedroom where Amison's father was. The men started arguing before Amison shot the victim.

He was listed in critical condition at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood on Sunday.

After leaving Maywood, Amison went to 5314 S. Marshfield in Chicago about 1:20 a.m., where he shot and killed Reed, prosecutors allege.

Police found Reed, 40, dead at her home, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office. She had been shot in the head.

Reed had dated Amison on and off for three or four years, according to her brother Jeffrey Reed. The couple split in October, and Amison allegedly called her last week trying to get back together, Jeffrey Reed said. She turned him down.

On Saturday, Amison allegedly kicked down her door and shot her, a source said.

Just a few hours later, Smith was found strangled in her home in Steger. Police could not confirm how long she had been dead, but her body was discovered about 3 a.m. in the 300 block of West 35th Street.

Smith was reportedly Amison’s girlfriend, police said.

Following the murders of Smith and Reed, and the shooting in Maywood, the attempted armed robbery was reported at The Factory around 2 a.m., police said.

Amison was arrested after he allegedly entered the club with a loaded handgun, according to a police report. He allegedly began walking around the club pointing the weapon at 77-year-old employee Duehl Hendricks and patron Eduardo Alcantar.

The report said Amison placed his weapon against the back of Alcantar’s head and demanded money. After not being given any, Amison allegedly fired a shot at an employee named Jesse Montalvo, but didn’t hit him.

Amison was ultimately shot by a club patron before police arrived and arrested him, according to court records. A fire official said Amison was conscious and talking to paramedics on the scene.

Amison was subdued and restrained by security officers at the scene until police arrived. Security officers reportedly took a 9mm semi-automatic Beretta pistol from him and gave it to police, according to the report.

Charges in Smith’s murder are expected later Monday, according to Stultz.

Amison received a 12-year prison sentence in 1996 for aggravated vehicular hijacking and aggravated kidnapping. In 1993, he was convicted of armed robbery and received 6 years in prison. And in 1991, he was given a 3-year sentence for possession of a controlled substance, Simonton said.