Jason McMahan Sentenced to 30 Years for Murder and Shooting Incident at River North Bowling Alley
CHICAGO — The man accused of murdering a woman and shooting a second woman after a chance encounter at a River North bowling alley in 2022 was handed a 30-year sentence on Friday.
Jason McMahan and his girlfriend went to 10pin Bowling Lounge, 330 North State, on April 30, 2022, and crossed paths with two women who are friends with his ex, prosecutors said.
One of the women called McMahan’s ex to tell her that he had a new girlfriend and then began arguing with McMahan and his new girlfriend, officials said. McMahan, 39, and his girlfriend left and walked to the girlfriend’s car, but two of his ex’s friends followed them, and video showed the women arguing.
The girlfriend drove back to the bowling alley with McMahan in the passenger seat. The two women, now joined by McMahan’s ex, knocked on her passenger-side window.
As surveillance cameras rolled, McMahan allegedly got out of the car and punched one of the women in the head, knocking her to the ground. According to prosecutors, he fired a gun at his ex and her friends, killing one of the friends and injuring the other. His ex-girlfriend was not injured. He then returned to his girlfriend’s car and left the scene.
The girlfriend, who had already called 911 twice for help, drove a short distance, parked, and called 911 a third time. McMahan and an unidentified man who were in the car left before police arrived, officials said.
McMahan’s girlfriend, who had a permit to carry a concealed weapon, had two guns in her car, and ballistics tests allegedly showed that one of them was used in the shooting.
McMahan was on probation for a 2018 felony theft case at the time of the shootings. His past convictions include aggravated unlawful use of a weapon in 2014 and narcotics-related charges in 2005 and 2010.
On Friday, McMahan pleaded guilty to a charge of second-degree murder, which was reduced from first-degree murder, and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, which was reduced from attempted murder, according to court records.
Judge Carol Howard sentenced him to 20 years for the second-degree murder charge and a consecutive 10 years for the conspiracy count.
