Tragedy struck a viral couple in Ohio after the husband and soon-to-be father of three died after being shot in the head.
Scierra Blair, 33, and her husband, José Ervin Jr., 32, made national headlines last year when they welcomed twins into the world on the exact same day as their joint birthday.
The couple were born on August 18th and on that same day in 2023 A'ria and José Ervin III were born – for which José then declared it was the 'best birthday present ever'. People reported.
But two months after the couple shared a joint birthday celebration as a family of four, José was shot and shot multiple times at a Dunkin Donuts on Turney Road in Garfield Heights.
Tragedy has struck a viral Ohio couple, Scierra Blair, 33, and her now-husband, José Ervin Jr., 32, after the soon-to-be father of three was shot in the head and killed at a Dunkin Donuts in Ohio
The couple was born on August 18th. On that same day in 2023, A'ria and José Ervin III were born – for which José declared it the 'best birthday present ever'.
His death came just weeks after the couple learned their third child was on the way.
'We just got married in June. We didn't even get married for six months,' Scierra told News 5 Cleveland.
'They have no right to steal a life. We are not God. We don't have that right.
José left a local bar with his best friend in the early hours of October 4 before heading to a gas station.
Surveillance video shows José ordering food and drinks at the window before approaching a group of people and asking for a cigarette, Chloe 'Ervin-Dozier, his sister, tells PEOPLE.
An argument broke out between José and another man in a white shirt, in which two women tried to intervene. But the confrontation only escalated when the man in the white shirt took a gun from his bag.
Surveillance video shows José ordering food and drinks at a gas station window after a night out with his best friend at a local bar
An argument arose between José and another man in a white shirt, which two women tried to intervene, but it only intensified when the man in a white shirt took a gun out of his bag.
José began running down Turney Road while being chased and several shots were fired before he was struck and fell to the curb in front of Dunkin.
José began running down Turney Road as several shots were fired before he was struck and fell to the curb in front of Dunkin.
“He chased my brother like he was prey,” Ervin Dozier added.
The unknown man and the two women returned to the car and drove away.
José was transported to Marymount Hospital for treatment, but succumbed to his injuries – which included a gunshot wound to the head – and died shortly afterwards.
He left behind his one-year-old twins and his wife, Scierra, who is 10 weeks pregnant with their third child.
'My son was begging, my son was saying 'don't do this, don't kill me, man,'” Rhonda Ervin, José's mother, told News 5 Cleveland. —And he did it anyway. They did it anyway.
José was transported to Marymount Hospital for treatment, but succumbed to his injuries – which included a gunshot wound to the head – and died shortly afterwards.
His death comes at a time when the couple was adapting to their new family life. The pair tied the knot in June of this year, celebrating their love in a grand ceremony at Lee-Seville Baptist Church in Cleveland, People reported.
Two months after their wedding, they celebrated their quadruple birthday party together as a family, enjoying a cake with vanilla buttercream frosting topped with sprinkles and topped with a 'One' candle.
Despite the twins having a cold, their family was still able to celebrate the milestone in a four-hour Facetime call – each receiving their own cake to join in the festivities.
“We partied – we really had fun,” Ervin-Dozier added. “I really think that for José, this party was one for the books.” And his birthday wish had already come true.
'All José wanted was to be a father.'
The couple has always dreamed of living together and recently put down a deposit to buy a house in Parma, Ohio.
José had celebrated his college graduation in February with a degree in building maintenance and was scheduled to begin work in a welding program on October 14.
He also started his own business – an HVAC building maintenance company. Banking on the fact that his third child would be a boy, he named the start-up Jose & Sons.
José had celebrated his college graduation in February with a degree in building maintenance and was scheduled to begin work in a welding program on October 14.
The pair tied the knot in June of this year, celebrating their love in a grand ceremony at Lee-Seville Baptist Church in Cleveland.
He also started his own business – an HVAC building maintenance company. Banking on the fact that his third child would be a boy, he named the start-up Jose & Sons
Police are searching for a suspect in the murder and have confirmed there is a car of interest they are actively searching for, News 5 Cleveland reported.
The Shell gas station, also located on Turney Road and near the scene, is also part of the shooting investigation.
But José's family asked the man who killed their loved one to turn himself in.
“He has twins here, a boy and a girl. They need their dad now,” Jose Ervin Sr., Jose’s father, told News 5.
'We have to step forward and raise our grandchildren. You took away a good man.
José was described by his family as the “glue” that held everyone together. He was said to be well known in the community and posed no threat to anyone.
“José was the light of everyone’s lives,” Ervin-Dozier added. 'It's hard that he's not with us.'
The family has created a GoFundMe page to help with funeral costs and further support for his wife and children.
