Johnstown, Pa. — A neighborhood on Cypress Avenue in the Moxham section feels the weight of loss after 38‑year‑old Kammi Ritchwood was shot and killed Sunday afternoon in what authorities are calling a domestic‑related homicide. The Cambria County Coroner, Jeff Lees, confirmed that Ritchwood died from multiple gunshot wounds to the head.
Police arrested 43‑year‑old Raghib Qawi Nash after he allegedly admitted to fatally shooting Ritchwood, whom he reportedly called his wife. Officers found a .45‑caliber handgun at the scene, and investigators believe the shooting stemmed from a long‑running argument between the two.
When officers arrived at the Cypress Avenue home, they discovered Ritchwood lying on the floor as another woman frantically tried to save her. Emergency crews pronounced her dead at the scene. Sources say the dispute between Ritchwood and Nash began the night before and escalated into violence.
According to the criminal affidavit, phone records and witness accounts pointed to a series of threats Nash made toward Ritchwood, including statements such as, “B**ch, I’ll murder you,” and references to putting “five plugs in you” if he saw her again. Nash reportedly claimed the victim attacked him first before he fired the shots.
Cambria County District Attorney Jessica Aurandt said Nash is now jailed in the Cambria County Prison facing multiple charges: criminal homicide, two counts of aggravated assault, and one count of terroristic threats. Bail has been denied, and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for February 18 at 10 a.m.
Johnstown Police Chief Mark Britton addressed the tragedy as a senseless act of domestic violence. He highlighted the department’s commitment to better training and resources for officers to help intervene before disputes like this end in bloodshed.
This case has shaken the local community, yet officials emphasize there’s no ongoing threat to public safety. Investigators continue to review the evidence as they piece together how a dispute in a Johnstown home turned into a life‑ending confrontation.
