Man fatally shoots two police officers after killing his family, authorities report.
In the quiet neighbourhood of East Cleveland, Ohio, a tragic incident unfolded on the evening of August 7, 2025. A domestic dispute at a home in the 1900 block of North Taylor Road led to a shooting that would leave two family members dead, two East Cleveland police officers wounded, and the community in shock.
The suspect in this case is Aaron L. Sharp, a 24-year-old individual with a prior history with the police. Before the incident, Sharp allegedly shot and killed his relatives, Erik Sharp (22 years old) and Charles Roscoe (82 years old).
The incident began when officers responded to a shooting call at the home on North Taylor Road. Upon arrival, Officer Joshua Durda was shot in the leg. About an hour later, from a hidden location, Officer Brandon Hernandez was shot in the lower body. Both officers were hospitalized and are in stable condition, with Hernandez expected to be released soon.
Officer Durda was shot outside the home and was immediately met with gunfire. Officer Hernandez was shot after Sharp fled the scene in the area of Euclid Avenue near North Taylor Road around 1 a.m. Friday. Hernandez is a part-time Geneva-on-the-Lake police officer. Durda has been on the East Cleveland police force full time since March 2023 and was an auxiliary officer from June 2016 to November 2019.
Following the incident, a manhunt ensued, and Sharp was apprehended the following morning near Shaw High School, just a few blocks from the scene. The police believe the two people killed were related to the suspect, but their identities have not been released.
On August 19, 2025, a Cuyahoga County grand jury formally indicted Aaron Sharp for the murders and shootings. Sharp is facing several charges, including two counts of aggravated murder and two charges of felonious assault.
East Cleveland Mayor Lateek Shabazz stated that this incident is a stark reminder of the risks police officers face every day. This shooting comes just two weeks after the three Lorain police officers were shot in an ambush.
As the investigation continues, the community is left to grapple with the aftermath of this tragic event. Officer Durda, 37 years old, remains in stable condition. The bond for Sharp has been set at $3 million. The case will be sent to the Cuyahoga County Grand Jury following Sharp's waiving of his preliminary hearing.
The local politics in East Cleveland, Ohio, have been shaken by the recent general-news event involving a domestic shooting, as the community grapples with the aftermath and the police forces deal with the fallout. The crime-and-justice system faces a major test as Aaron L. Sharp, a 24-year-old with a prior history with the police, is indicted for murder and assault charges following the tragic incident on August 7, 2025.
