The Johnstown community is confronting its first homicide of 2026 after a deadly domestic shooting in the Moxham neighborhood on Sunday, February 8. Authorities have identified the victim as 38-year-old Kammi Ritchwood, who was found fatally shot inside a home on Cypress Avenue.
The incident occurred at a residence in the 600 block of Cypress Avenue in Johnstown’s Moxham section. Police were dispatched to the scene around 2 p.m. after receiving a report of a gunshot wound. Upon arrival, officers found Ritchwood on the floor of the home’s first level, where another woman was attempting to resuscitate her. Emergency Medical Services pronounced her deceased at the scene.
The Cambria County Coroner, Jeff Lees, confirmed Ritchwood suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the head, and her death has been officially ruled a homicide. Investigators recovered a .45-caliber handgun from the scene. During the investigation, police spoke with witnesses and the suspect, 43-year-old Raghib Qawi Nash, who was taken into custody.
Nash, whom police reports indicate referred to Ritchwood as his wife, allegedly admitted to fatally shooting her. However, court documents reveal a history of threats preceding the violence. Witnesses told police that Nash had threatened Ritchwood the day before the shooting, making statements including “B**** I’ll murder you,” “I’ll smoke you,” and that he would put “five plugs in her”. Nash claimed to police that Ritchwood had assaulted him first, but officers noted only minor injuries on his left hand.
Raghib Qawi Nash now faces multiple charges, including one count of criminal homicide, two counts of aggravated assault, and one count of terroristic threats. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for February 18. He is being held without bail at the Cambria County Prison due to the homicide charge. Online records show Nash has a prior criminal history, including a 2016 simple assault conviction from a stabbing incident in Altoona.
During a press conference, Johnstown Police Chief Mark Britton called the crime an “absolutely senseless act of domestic violence” and a “tragic situation”. He emphasized that resources are available for victims, urging anyone in a dangerous domestic situation to seek help. The investigation remains active as authorities continue to piece together the full sequence of events.
