On January 21, 2026, at approximately 6:37 A.M., law enforcement officers were dispatched to a Winner Gas Station in the area of Humboldt Avenue North in Brooklyn Center, Hennepin County, Minnesota, on a report of a fight. It was reported to officers during dispatch that two males and a female were breaking things and fighting and left on foot. Upon arrival at the gas station, officers spoke with the reporting party, "Victim" herein, the clerk at the gas station. Victim stated to law enforcement that a male, later identified as CHRISTIAN ROMEIR JAMES [DOB REDACTED], "CHRISTIAN" herein, had entered the store upset because of a sandwich he had bought the night prior from the store.
CHRISTIAN stated to the clerk he was calling his family and would "f*** him up." It was reported by Victim that CHRISTIAN later returned with a male, CHRISTOPHER REAUNLD JAMES [DOB REDACTED], "DEFENDANT JAMES" herein, and a female ZAHRA-SHYRESE CELEST- JEAN ROYAL [DOB REDACTED], "ROYAL" herein. The three then began to damage property within the store, while DEFENDANT JAMES was armed with a baseball bat. Victim [NAME REDACTED] stated that he was "coming to hit" Victim, while armed with the baseball bat.
Victim [NAME REDACTED] was fearful that DEFENDANT JAMES was going to assault him with the bat. All three individuals were located nearby. DEFENDANT JAMES admitted to destroying the store but denied using a bat. DEFENDANT JAMES was thereafter placed under arrest. DEFENDANT JAMES made multiple utterances that he was going to return to the store once out of the jail, that he should have smashed Victim's head in when he was there, and other threats to the officers. Officers were later able to review surveillance, and observed the three damage property in the store, and DEFENDANT JAMES had a baseball bat throughout the encounter.
ROYAL stated that she did not see a bat. Surveillance shows ROYAL and CHRISTIAN both looked at DEFENDANT JAMES while he was in possession of the bat. DEFENDANT JAMES is presently in custody. Heightened bail is respectfully requested given the conduct and statements of DEFENDANT JAMES after arrest, as well as DEFENDANT JAMES having a prior Felony Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm conviction in case file 27-CR-22-9343 which he was discharged from probation on that matter on December 1, 2025.
