Elijah Taylor Berry, known on stage as Godfrey Daniels, was 32 when he was found fatally shot at a residence on Lone Oak Road in Johnson City, Tennessee, on the evening of January 3, 2023. A regional theatre regular and East Tennessee State University graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts, Berry taught children’s acting, hosted silent film screenings and performed with companies such as the Jonesborough Repertory Theatre and the Johnson City Community Theatre.

Police say an altercation between Berry and 31-year-old Ronald Bernier escalated and Bernier allegedly shot Berry. Bernier was arrested at the scene and charged with second-degree murder; he was held on $100,000 bond and arraigned the next day in Washington County General Sessions Court. The investigation into the circumstances of the shooting is ongoing.

A celebration of Berry’s life was held at the Jonesborough Repertory Theatre and his family asked for donations to a gun safety organization in lieu of flowers. If anyone has information about the incident or knew Elijah, please share what you can with investigators.