On the morning of November 17, 2024, at approximately 8:30 a.m., Sharon police responded to reports of a shooting on the 300 block of Logan Avenue. Upon arrival, officers discovered 31-year-old Jesse Michael Grover, a resident of Sharon, Pennsylvania, suffering from a gunshot wound. Despite immediate medical assistance, Grover succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
The suspect, identified as 25-year-old Portez Smith, also of Sharon, was present when officers arrived and was promptly taken into custody. Witnesses reported that Smith, who resided in the same duplex as Grover, confronted him on the front porch, accusing him of being a pedophile and demanding he leave Logan Avenue. The confrontation escalated when Smith produced a firearm and shot Grover in the chest. Smith later admitted to the shooting during police interviews.
Subsequent investigations revealed that Grover was a Tier 1 registered sex offender, convicted in 2015 on charges of corruption of minors, with his residence listed at the Logan Avenue address. Smith has been charged with criminal homicide and carrying a firearm without a license and is currently held at the Mercer County Jail awaiting arraignment.
Grover's passing has deeply affected the Sharon community. Born in Houston, Texas, he was adopted at the age of two and raised in Greenville, Pennsylvania. He was known for his gentle demeanor and was beloved by many in Sharon. He is survived by his spouse, Tabitha A. Barr-Grover, his parents, siblings, step-children, and step-grandchildren. A Celebration of Life Service was held on November 23, 2024, at the J. Bradley McGonigle Funeral Home and Crematory in Sharon.
