Erik Sharp Obituary, Death; Medical examiner names 2 victims killed before East Cleveland officer shooting.

Erik Sharp Obituary, Death – Early Friday morning, East Cleveland was the scene of a violent domestic dispute that escalated into the killing of two family members, the shooting of two police officers, and an extensive overnight manhunt. Authorities have identified the suspect as 24-year-old Aaron L. Sharp, who allegedly killed 22-year-old Erik Sharp and 82-year-old Charles Roscoe before turning his weapon on law enforcement.

The incident began late Thursday night, around 11 p.m., when East Cleveland police were called to a home in the 1900 block of North Taylor Road following reports of a domestic disturbance. Upon arrival, Officer Joshua Durda, 37, encountered immediate gunfire outside the residence and was shot. About two hours later, Officer Hernandez, whose first name was not released, was shot while on Euclid Avenue near North Taylor Road.

Following the shootings, Sharp fled the scene, prompting an all-night search involving numerous law enforcement agencies. The manhunt ended around 8:30 a.m. Friday when Sharp was captured alive in the 1800 block of Sheldon Avenue, near Shaw High School. Officials confirmed that Sharp had previous encounters with law enforcement before this deadly incident.

Both injured officers were taken to University Hospitals, where they were reported to be in stable condition. Officer Hernandez was expected to be released from the hospital later that day, while Officer Durda was admitted for several days due to what officials described as “small complications.” Hernandez has been with the East Cleveland Police Department since December 2024 and also serves part-time with the Geneva-on-the-Lake Police Department. Durda joined the department full-time in March 2023 after serving as an auxiliary officer from 2016 to 2019.

Mayor Lateek Shabazz and Police Chief Reginald Holcomb publicly commended the bravery of the officers, emphasizing the dangers law enforcement faces daily. Chief Holcomb called the incident a sobering reminder of the risks officers take in the line of duty.

The response to the shootings involved a significant number of agencies, including the East Cleveland Fire Department, Euclid Police, the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office, Cleveland Division of Police, Cleveland Heights Police, Shaker Heights Police, Cleveland Metropolitan Housing Authority Police, University Circle Police, the Ohio State Highway Patrol, SWAT, U.S. Marshals, ATF, Secret Service, and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

This violent confrontation comes just two weeks after another tragic event in Ohio, in which three Lorain police officers were shot in what authorities described as an ambush. The back-to-back attacks have heightened concerns about officer safety across the state.

The investigation into Sharp’s actions, the motive behind the killings, and the circumstances of the police shootings is ongoing. Authorities have not yet disclosed what led to the domestic dispute or any potential legal charges, but the case remains a priority for local, state, and federal investigators.

Officials have promised continued updates as more details emerge, noting that the swift collaboration between multiple agencies played a key role in bringing the suspect into custody without further loss of life.