Christopher Cross James, a 25-year-old man known to loved ones as "Chris Glizzy," was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on January 9, 2001. He was part of what his family described as a loving and caring unit, and his violent death left them with a deep loss for words. His step-brother, Joshua Snyder, along with his brother, Jordan C. Allen, and sister, Rebecca Marie, were left to mourn a man whose life was cut short in what they termed a "careless act of Gun Violence."
The family hoped and prayed for peace in the wake of their profound grief.
In the late hours of Monday, October 12, 2026, the quiet of a residential street in Berwick, Pennsylvania, was shattered. At approximately 11:15 p.m., an intruder forced open a rear door of the two-story home at 109 Walnut Street. According to police, the intruder then went upstairs and shot Christopher James as he slept in his bed. A next-door neighbor, who had moved to the area only a month prior, told reporters they heard "five or six gunshots" that sounded like a firecracker. A few minutes later, the neighbor heard someone cry out for "Help!" followed by the sound of heavy breathing, which prompted the call to 911. The neighbor, frightened for their own young children, remained inside, uncertain if the danger had passed.
When officers from the Berwick Borough Police Department arrived at the home near the corner of 2nd and Walnut Streets, they found Christopher with a gunshot wound. They immediately began performing life-saving measures at the scene. He was rushed to Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, but his injuries were too severe, and he was pronounced dead. Berwick Mayor Tim Burke asked residents to avoid the area as a major investigation began to unfold.
The Berwick Borough Police Department, assisted by the Pennsylvania State Police Forensic Services Unit and the Columbia County District Attorney’s Office, launched a homicide investigation. For five days, detectives worked the case, which culminated in a pre-dawn raid on Saturday, October 17. At around 6 a.m., the Columbia-Montour SWAT team executed multiple search warrants at a home at 109 S. Oak Street, just a few blocks from the scene of the shooting.
During the raid, authorities apprehended 22-year-old Nicholas Peter Romeo, also known as “RJ.” Later that day, Romeo was arraigned by District Judge Craig W. Long on charges of criminal homicide, burglary, and tampering with evidence. Investigators alleged that Romeo was the individual who pried open the rear door of James's home, went upstairs, and shot him. Following his arraignment, Romeo was remanded to the Columbia County Prison without bail.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, Christopher's family was left to grapple with their sudden and violent loss. His step-brother started a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for a "proper farewell" and to bring a measure of peace to the family. In the fundraiser's description, he wrote, "Our family and friends are mourning this loss deeply... No one deserves to pass over a disagreement... EVER." The campaign sought support from the local community and his own outreach in the boxing community to help put his brother to rest.
As of October 2026, the investigation was still considered active by Berwick Police Chief Reagan D. Rafferty, even with an arrest made. Nicholas Romeo was in custody awaiting further court proceedings. Authorities thanked the numerous agencies that assisted in the swift apprehension, including the U.S. Marshals Violent Fugitive Task Force and the Montour County Emergency Management Agency Drone Team. Police have asked anyone with information about the shooting to contact Sgt. Kelchner of the Berwick Borough Police Department at 570-784-6300 or to submit a tip through the department’s Crimewatch page.
