Antonio James charged with murder in 2013 Woodlawn shooting death of Ernest McMullen

Michael Lansu — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 13:57:19 -0500

Antonio James / Photo from Chicago Police

BY ANGELIQUE WHITE
Homicide Watch Chicago

Antonio James has been charged with murder in the July 2013 shooting death of Ernest McMullen in the Woodlawn neighborhood.

McMullen, 26, was sitting in the backseat of a car with a group of people in the 6600 block of South Champlain Avenue when James pulled up next to the car and opened fire into the backseat about 7:25 p.m. July 3, 2013, said Assistant State’s Attorney Robert Mack said.

Several months earlier, James had a dispute with one of the people in the car, Mack said.

McMullen and two men in the backseat were wounded in the shooting, authorities said. All three arrived at St. Bernard Hospital without the help of paramedics.

McMullen, of the 800 block of East 46th Street, was shot in the head, back, arm and hand and died at the hospital a short time later, authorities said.

An 18-year-old was shot in the chest and suffered a collapsed lung that required a longer hospital stay, Mack said. The 19-year-old was shot in the shoulder.

One of the surviving victims knew James and provided information to police. Multiple witnesses later identified James in a photo arrays and lineups, Mack said.

James, of the 9200 block of South Dobson Avenue, made a videotaped admission to the shooting, authorities said. He was charged with one count of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted first-degree murder.

On Thursday, Judge James Brown ordered him held without bond.

He will be back in court Sept. 24.

Antonio James | Homicide Watch Chicago

Antonio James charged with murder in 2013 Woodlawn shooting death of Ernest McMullen