Tragic Shooting: Ohio Man Who Shared Birthday with Wife and Twins Fatally Shot
José Ervin, Jr., an Ohio man who gained attention for sharing a birthday with his wife and their twins, was fatally shot outside a Dunkin’ Donuts in Garfield Heights on October 4. The tragic incident occurred after José reportedly asked a group of people for a cigarette.
Ervin, 32, and his wife, Scierra, made headlines last year when their twins were born on the couple’s shared birthday, August 18. Just less than two months after the twins’ birthday celebration, tragedy struck. His sister, Chloe Ervin-Dozier, confirmed his death to People, stating, “José was the light of everybody’s life. It’s hard that he’s not with us.”
As of now, Garfield Heights investigators have not made any arrests related to the shooting. José was shot multiple times outside the Dunkin’ Donuts on Turney Road. On the night of the shooting, his sister explained that he was returning home from a local bar with his best friend when they stopped at a nearby gas station.
Police have identified a car of interest seen at the Shell station during the shooting. Surveillance footage showed José approaching a group of people at the station to ask for a cigarette, but the situation quickly escalated into an altercation. Ervin-Dozier recounted that her brother backed away when he noticed one of the men in the group was armed. Unfortunately, he was shot moments later at the nearby Dunkin’ Donuts.
In a phone interview with People, Ervin-Dozier shared her frustration, saying the family has not received any updates regarding arrests. She described the shooter as having “chased my brother down like he was prey.”
José was rushed to Marymount Hospital with multiple gunshot wounds but succumbed to his injuries at 3:34 A.M. on October 4. His death came during a time when he and Scierra were excitedly preparing to expand their family; she is currently pregnant with their third child. The couple had just celebrated their shared birthday with their twins.
Ervin-Dozier expressed that her brother’s wish had come true in 2023, saying, “All José wanted to do was to be a father.” The family had recently put down a deposit on a new home in Parma, Ohio, but now, with Scierra ten weeks pregnant, she is reluctant to live in the house alone.
While the family doesn’t know the sex of the baby yet, they had chosen a name, Terry, that would work for either a boy or a girl, honoring José’s grandfather and aunt. “But [José] was banking on Terry being another boy,” Ervin-Dozier added.
To help cover José Ervin, Jr.’s funeral costs and support his wife and children—A’Ria and José Ervin III—a GoFundMe has been launched, raising $12,325 of their $20,000 goal so far.
