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Case file

Chanice Reed case file and memorial story

This documented case file remembers Chanice Reed while organizing the public record, timeline, and reporting context surrounding the case in Fort Worth, Texas.

On July 1, 2013, 22-year-old Chanice Reed, her 39-year-old mother Annette Reed, and her 10-year-old brother Eddie McCuin Jr. were shot and killed at their home on Pate Street/Drive in Southeast Fort Worth, Texas. Chanice was pregnant at the time, and the father of the unborn child was her boyfriend, Amos Joseph Wells III. Earlier that afternoon, Wells became angry when Chanice failed to answer his phone calls and drove to her residence. During a heated confrontation, which Chanice's 17-year-old brother overheard via a phone call with their mother, Wells shot Chanice four times, her mother twice, and her young brother four times. Wells turned himself in to the Forest Hill Police Department shortly after the murders. In November 2016, a jury in Tarrant County's 432nd District Court convicted Wells of capital murder and sentenced him to death. His appeals, including a challenge over a controversial trial defense involving genetic predisposition to violence, were exhausted in May 2022.

Chanice Reed
Resolved case
Convicted
Fort Worth, Texas • 2013-07-01 • girlfriend
intimate partner homicide gun violence femicide Fatal-Domestic-Violence Multi-Victim-Homicide Child-Victim Pregnancy-Associated-Homicide Prior-Abuse-History Tarrant-County-Texas Death-Penalty-Case

How to use this case file

Readers often arrive looking for the victim name, the case, the suspect, or the location. This page is meant to help you understand the memorial story, the documented timeline, and the verified public record in one place.

Browse the full case archive, explore the warning signs index, see the cross-case timeline, or find domestic violence support resources.

Victim summary

This summary layer helps readers understand the person, the known case posture, and the documentary shape of the file before moving into the fuller reporting.

Case snapshot

  • Victim: Chanice Reed
  • Age: 22
  • Gender: female
  • Race / ethnicity: B
  • Relationship: girlfriend
  • Offender: Chanice Reed

Location and dates

  • City: Fort Worth
  • County: Tarrant
  • State: Texas
  • Incident date: 2013-07-01
  • Date of death: 2013-07-01

Case status and outcome

This section summarizes the court posture and procedural outcome that readers most often search for.

Status

  • Case status: Sentenced
  • Conviction status: Convicted
  • Source strength: 6 linked sources

Charges and sentencing

Charges: Capital Murder

Court monitoring

This section reflects core court-tracking details only when they are available in the public case record.

Docket information

  • Case status: Sentenced

Warning signs and risk factors

These markers help readers connect a single case to broader patterns of coercive control, escalating abuse, and missed intervention points.

Risk factors

Coercive control Prior domestic violence reports Access to firearms

Life, memory, and case context

Chanice Reed was a 22-year-old woman living in Fort Worth, Texas, who was looking forward to becoming a mother. Described by friends and co-workers as a warm and hard-working person, she was employed locally and had built close relationships with her family and colleagues. She lived in Southeast Fort Worth with her family, including her mother, Annette Reed, who was known as a compassionate woman who frequently supported others in times of grief. Her younger brother, Eddie McCuin Jr., was a 10-year-old child with his whole life ahead of him. The family was deeply rooted in their community, which rallied to support surviving relatives after the tragedy.

Timeline of known events

  • 2013-07-01 00:00:00 Homicide Incident
    Amos Joseph Wells III shoots and kills his pregnant girlfriend Chanice Reed, her mother Annette Reed, and her 10-year-old brother Eddie McCuin Jr. at their home on Pate Street in Southeast Fort Worth, Texas. Timeline sources: - https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMid0FVX3lxTE0tNU5rSDZ3bmNtN25UWXlZS3g5enNLMTY4dG9PUnlmdUtwYUIwbm1DZ1VmZDl0R0phbkpmTDIwcVE3SVZfZFhKdnlSaWxyLW91SzUycHhyQ1VDVXk4TURuMjYtbnh6LWtSR3dJZXBFc2ZicFhieG1V0gF3QVVfeXFMTWNwaGNkaS1PTTJ3ZTdWS0k4RWE1eHoxU1BlbDh4WmZYMFBFT3ptRENybTNIYXdQS2JkazRFelRjWHVpV1pXQ29HeEpKQ3A5WDhOczIzbnE2Q3pCREZwODFNUFRRTTZDelZ0cUhjQWRENHZ4VXRoVW8?oc=5 - https://www.kbtx.com/content/news/North-Texas-man-sentenced-to-death-in-fatal-shooting-of-3-402070865.html - https://law.justia.com/cases/texas/court-of-criminal-appeals/2020/ap-77-070.html
  • 2013-07-01 00:00:00 Suspect Surrender and Arrest
    Amos Joseph Wells III turns himself in at the Forest Hill Police Department lobby at approximately 7:30 p.m., in a dazed state, roughly one hour after the murders. Timeline sources: - https://law.justia.com/cases/texas/court-of-criminal-appeals/2020/ap-77-070.html
  • 2016-10-31 00:00:00 Trial Commencement
    The capital murder trial for Amos Joseph Wells III begins in Tarrant County's 432nd Judicial District Court under case number 1405275R. Timeline sources: - https://law.justia.com/cases/texas/court-of-criminal-appeals/2020/ap-77-070.html
  • 2016-11-03 00:00:00 Guilty Verdict
    A Tarrant County jury convicts Amos Joseph Wells III of capital murder. Timeline sources: - https://law.justia.com/cases/texas/court-of-criminal-appeals/2020/ap-77-070.html
  • 2016-11-18 00:00:00 Death Penalty Sentencing
    The jury delivers its answers to the punishment phase special issues, and the trial court formally sentences Amos Joseph Wells III to death. Timeline sources: - https://www.kbtx.com/content/news/North-Texas-man-sentenced-to-death-in-fatal-shooting-of-3-402070865.html - https://law.justia.com/cases/texas/court-of-criminal-appeals/2020/ap-77-070.html
  • 2020-11-18 00:00:00 Direct Appeal Affirmed
    The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals rejects all thirteen points of error on direct appeal and affirms the capital murder conviction and death sentence under Case No. AP-77,070. Timeline sources: - https://law.justia.com/cases/texas/court-of-criminal-appeals/2020/ap-77-070.html
  • 2021-12-15 00:00:00 State Habeas Application Denied
    The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals denies Amos Joseph Wells III's state application for a writ of habeas corpus. Timeline sources: - https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docket/docketfiles/html/public/21-7388.html
  • 2022-06-21 00:00:00 U.S. Supreme Court Certiorari Denied
    The Supreme Court of the United States denies Amos Joseph Wells III's petition for a writ of certiorari (No. 21-7388), concluding his post-conviction challenge to the state habeas adjudication process. Timeline sources: - https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docket/docketfiles/html/public/21-7388.html
  • 2013-07-01 00:00:00 Suspect Surrender and Arrest
    Following the shootings, Amos Joseph Wells III surrenders himself to the Forest Hill Police Department and is taken into custody. Timeline sources: - https://www.kbtx.com/content/news/North-Texas-man-sentenced-to-death-in-fatal-shooting-of-3-402070865.html
  • 2016-11-03 00:00:00 Guilty Verdict
    The Tarrant County jury convicts Amos Joseph Wells III of capital murder. Timeline sources: - https://law.justia.com/cases/texas/court-of-criminal-appeals/2020/ap-77-070.html - https://www.kbtx.com/content/news/North-Texas-man-sentenced-to-death-in-fatal-shooting-of-3-402070865.html
  • 2016-11-18 00:00:00 Death Penalty Sentencing
    Following the penalty phase, the jury sentences Amos Joseph Wells III to death. Timeline sources: - https://law.justia.com/cases/texas/court-of-criminal-appeals/2020/ap-77-070.html - https://www.kbtx.com/content/news/North-Texas-man-sentenced-to-death-in-fatal-shooting-of-3-402070865.html
  • 2019-04-18 00:00:00 State Habeas Corpus Application Filed
    Amos Joseph Wells III files an application for state habeas corpus relief in Texas state court, starting his post-conviction appeals process. Timeline sources: - https://courtlistener.com/docket/68007622/wells-v-guerrero/
  • 2020-11-18 00:00:00 Direct Appeal Affirmed
    The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals (CCA) affirms the capital murder conviction and death sentence of Amos Joseph Wells III on direct appeal (No. AP-77,070). Timeline sources: - https://law.justia.com/cases/texas/court-of-criminal-appeals/2020/ap-77-070.html
  • 2021-12-15 00:00:00 State Habeas Application Denied
    The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals denies Amos Joseph Wells III's state application for a writ of habeas corpus (No. WR-86,784-01). Timeline sources: - https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docket/docketfiles/html/public/21-7388.html
  • 2022-06-21 00:00:00 U.S. Supreme Court Certiorari Denied
    The Supreme Court of the United States denies certiorari review (No. 21-7388) following the denial of state habeas relief. Timeline sources: - https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docket/docketfiles/html/public/21-7388.html
  • 2023-11-02 00:00:00 Federal Habeas Corpus Petition Denied
    The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas denies Wells's federal habeas corpus petition (No. 4:21-CV-01384-O) and denies a certificate of appealability. Timeline sources: - https://courtlistener.com/docket/68007622/wells-v-guerrero/
  • 2025-07-22 00:00:00 Fifth Circuit Certificate of Appealability Denied
    The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit denies Wells's application for a certificate of appealability (No. 24-70002), rejecting challenges to his death sentence concerning the trial defense's 'warrior gene' genetic predisposition theory. Timeline sources: - https://courtlistener.com/docket/68007622/wells-v-guerrero/
  • 2025-08-19 00:00:00 Rehearing En Banc Denied
    The Fifth Circuit denies Wells's petition for rehearing en banc regarding the certificate of appealability. Timeline sources: - https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docket/docketfiles/html/public/25-732.html
  • 2025-12-17 00:00:00 Supreme Court Certiorari Petition Filed
    Wells files a petition for a writ of certiorari in the U.S. Supreme Court (No. 25-732), backed by amicus briefs from civil rights and scientific groups challenging the defense counsel's reliance on 'warrior gene' evidence. Timeline sources: - https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docket/docketfiles/html/public/25-732.html
  • 2026-03-30 00:00:00 U.S. Supreme Court Certiorari Denied
    The Supreme Court of the United States denies Wells's petition for a writ of certiorari (No. 25-732), concluding his federal habeas corpus appellate track. Timeline sources: - https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docket/docketfiles/html/public/25-732.html

Fatal incident and reported circumstances

On the afternoon of July 1, 2013, Amos Joseph Wells III became enraged when Chanice Reed did not answer his phone calls. At approximately 5:39 p.m., Wells drove to the Reed family home on Pate Street/Drive in Fort Worth. Inside the home were Chanice, her mother Annette, and her 10-year-old brother Eddie. While the confrontation was occurring, Chanice's 17-year-old brother called his mother's phone. He listened in horror as his sister pleaded, "Stop, Amos, you're scaring me." Wells pulled out a 9mm handgun and opened fire. He shot Chanice four times, killing her and her unborn child. He shot Annette Reed twice, inflicting wounds that would prove fatal at a local hospital. He also chased and shot 10-year-old Eddie McCuin four times, leaving his body in a hallway.

Aftermath and case developments

Following the shootings, Wells fled the scene and called a friend of a former girlfriend to confess what he had done. Shortly after, he walked into the nearby Forest Hill Police Department, told officers he had "done something bad," and was taken into custody. Wells was charged with capital murder. His trial in Tarrant County's 432nd Judicial District Court took place in November 2016. After hearing testimonies from a former girlfriend detailing Wells's extensive history of severe physical abuse, as well as testimony from Chanice's co-worker about her visible injuries, the jury found him guilty. He was sentenced to death. Wells appealed his sentence, arguing in part that his defense team's use of "warrior gene" genetic science backfired by proving he was permanently dangerous. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed his sentence in 2020, and the U.S. Supreme Court denied his final petition for certiorari in May 2022. Wells remains on Texas's death row.

Prevention context

This case illustrates the extreme danger signs that often lead to fatal outcomes. The suspect had a long history of physical violence, including choking a previous partner until she blacked out and kicking in doors, which are clear signs of an escalating threat. Even though he pleaded guilty to prior assaults, he did not finish his court-ordered batterers' intervention program, showing a critical failure in supervision and monitoring. Furthermore, the victim's co-workers noticed visible injuries like bruises and a black eye before the fatal shooting, which highlights the importance of workplaces as potential lifelines where early intervention and support could be offered.

Court records and public filings

Public filings, police reports, court dockets, and related records help establish what is documented, what remains disputed, and where warnings were recorded.

News Article

Amos Joseph Wells, III v. The State of Texas

Texas Court of Criminal Appeals direct appeal opinion (No. AP-77,070) affirming the conviction and death sentence.

Amos Joseph Wells, III v. The State of Texas
Open public record
News Article

Amos Joseph Wells, III, Petitioner v. Texas

U.S. Supreme Court docket for No. 21-7388 showing the denial of certiorari on June 21, 2022.

Amos Joseph Wells, III, Petitioner v. Texas
Open public record
Public Record

Amos J. Wells, III, Petitioner v. Eric Guerrero, Director, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Correctional Institutions Division

U.S. Supreme Court Docket No. 25-732 showing proceedings, filings of amicus briefs, and the denial of certiorari on March 30, 2026.

Amos J. Wells, III, Petitioner v. Eric Guerrero, Director, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Correctional Institutions Division
Open public record
Public Record

Wells v. Guerrero, No. 24-70002

Federal court record for Fifth Circuit appeal No. 24-70002, where Wells sought a certificate of appealability regarding ineffective assistance of counsel claims.

Wells v. Guerrero, No. 24-70002
Open public record

Additional evidence and source material

Some materials do not fit neatly into one category but still belong in the documentary record of the case.

Document or transcript

WELLS-III-v-STATE-2020-FindLaw

Excerpt

Chanice had been shot four times. One shot entered between her eyes and traveled through the right side of her brain. Another shot entered her lower chest. A third shot entered her left abdomen, injuring her lungs, stomach, aorta, and thoracic spine. The fourt...

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