Arrest Made in Killing of Ohio Man Who Went Viral for Shared Birthday with Wife, Twins

Mar. 15, 2025

Scierra and José Ervin, Jr. with their newborn twins, A’Ria and José III, in August 2023.Photo:Cleveland Clinic

Cleveland Clinic

The love story of José Ervin, Jr. and his wife, Scierra Ervin, went viral last year when the couple – who were both born Aug. 18 –gave birth to twins on their shared birthday, a moment that José then told PEOPLE was the “best birthday present ever.”

But some six weeks after the couple celebrated their twins’ – A’Ria’s and José III’s – first birthdays, José was fatally shot outside a Dunkin’ Donuts in Garfield Heights, Ohio, on Friday, Oct. 4.

The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office confirms to PEOPLE that José was shot multiple times, sustaining wounds to the “head, trunk and right upper extremity with injury of cervical spine and aorta.” The office ruled the death a homicide.

Wuanyae Arrington in October 2024 mugshot.Garfield Heights Police Department

Garfield Heights Police Department

Detective Rick Fogle confirms to PEOPLE that Wuanyae Arrington was arrested in Columbus, Ohio, on Tuesday night, Oct. 15. The 29-year-old, who is charged with murder, is beingheldon a $10 million bond at the Cuyahoga County Jail.

Arrington is slated to make his initial court appearance at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 21, according to hisonline docket. A lawyer was not yet listed as representing him.

Scierra and José Ervin, Jr. with their twins, A’Ria and José III, at Lee-Seville Baptist Church in Cleveland, Ohio on June 22, 2024.Chloe' Ervin-Dozier

Chloe' Ervin-Dozier

José’s sister, Chloe' Ervin-Dozier, 33, whodiscussed her brother’s casewith PEOPLE last week, said that José had left a local bar with his best friend in the early morning hours of Friday, Oct. 4.

“José was the light of everybody’s life,” Ervin-Dozier said in an interview with PEOPLE a week after her brother’s death. “It’s hard that he’s not with us.”

José Ervin, Jr. with his twins, A’Ria and José III, after his college graduation ceremony in February 2024.Gofundme

Gofundme

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up forPEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletterfor breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

The shooting came just months after José married the twins’ mother in a large ceremony at Lee-Seville Baptist Church in Cleveland on June 22.

“All José wanted to do was to be a father,” Ervin-Dozier said, adding that her brother had settled naturally into fatherhood.

José Ervin, Jr. with his son, José III, on the twins’s first birthday on Aug. 18, 2024.Chloe' Ervin-Dozier

In an interview shortly after the twins’ Aug. 18, 2023 births, José had told PEOPLE that he was looking forward to “one big celebration” for the family of four’s joint birthday.

Ervin-Dozier tells PEOPLE that before he died, José got his wish, with an hours-long family party Aug. 18, complete with a vanilla buttercream cake coated in rainbow sprinkles.

“I genuinely think for José, this party was one for the books,” she says.

AGoFundMehas been set up to help cover the costs of José Ervin, Jr.’s funeral and to help support his wife and children.

source: people.com