24-Year-Old Aaron Sharp in Custody After Deadly East Cleveland Shooting Leaves Two Dead, Two Officers Wounded
EAST CLEVELAND, OH — A violent series of events unfolded late Thursday night and into Friday morning in East Cleveland, Ohio, leaving two civilians dead and two police officers wounded.
The suspect, identified as 24-year-old Aaron L. Sharp, was apprehended Friday morning following an extensive overnight manhunt.
The incident began around 11:00 p.m. Thursday, when East Cleveland Police responded to a call for a domestic disturbance at a residence in the 1900 block of North Taylor Road.
Upon arrival, Officer Joshua Durda, 37, was immediately met with gunfire and shot outside the residence. Inside the home, officers later discovered two deceased individuals, both victims of gunshot wounds.
Their identities have not yet been publicly released.
Shortly after, at approximately 1:00 a.m. Friday, Officer Brandon Hernandez was shot near Euclid Avenue and North Taylor Road, believed to be part of the ongoing search for the suspect.
Despite being wounded, both officers are currently in stable condition and receiving treatment at University Hospitals, according to East Cleveland Mayor Lateek Shabazz.
Authorities launched a large-scale manhunt throughout the night, culminating in the arrest of Aaron Sharp at approximately 8:30 a.m. in the 1800 block of Sheldon Avenue, near Shaw High School.
According to law enforcement sources, Sharp had a known history with local police prior to this incident.
Sharp, who turned 24 years old on August 8, is now in custody. Charges against him are expected to be formally announced in the coming days.
Officer Joshua Durda has served with the East Cleveland Police Department full-time since March 2023 and was previously an auxiliary officer from 2016 to 2019.
Officer Brandon Hernandez joined the force in December 2024 and also serves as a part-time officer with the Geneva-on-the-Lake Police Department.
“This is a stark reminder of the risks our officers face every day in the line of duty,” said East Cleveland Police Chief Reginald Holcomb, who commended the response of officers and partner agencies involved in the search.
The motive behind the deadly domestic shooting and the subsequent attacks on law enforcement remains under investigation. Local, state, and federal agencies continue to work collaboratively on the case.
Anyone with further information related to the incident is urged to contact East Cleveland Police.
Further updates are expected as the investigation continues.
