Cleveland, OH
‘This is how people die’: Woman attacked while running in Rocky River Reservation
ROCKY RIVER, Ohio — Metroparks police are investigating a violent attack in the Rocky River Reservation that left a woman hospitalized.
The Rocky River Reservation is a popular spot for running, walking or simply enjoying a picnic. One of those regulars was Vani Shukla.
She was supposed to finish her run near the South Mastick Picnic Area, but it was cut short. Now, she’s not sure if she’ll run that route alone again, reminding others to be cautious.
A warning: this story contains potentially disturbing content.
For the past year and a half, running has been Shukla’s passion as she trains for her first marathon, scheduled for October. She runs with many groups and often makes her laps at the Rocky River Reservation.
“Like 90% of my runs are in the reservation, like almost every day. I really love it there, it’s like one of my favorite places in Cleveland,” said Shukla.
But she never imagined one of those runs would turn into a nightmare.
“That was, I will say it is probably the scariest moment of my whole life,” said Shukla.
It happened Saturday, just before sunset. Shukla was pushing for her longest distance yet: 20 miles. She told News 5 she had taken all the safety precautions she normally would.
“I had my location shared. I told people where I was,” Shukla said. “I had a friend on his way to pick me up at the end of my run.”
But around mile 17.5, she says her run was violently interrupted.
“He came up from behind me, grabbed my shoulders, put his hands around my neck, and I couldn’t even scream,” Shukla said. “I tried to reach for, like my fanny pack that had my phone in it so I could emergency try to dial 911, but, like, It all happened so quick.”
Shukla said she fought as hard as she could—until she blacked out.
“As soon as I realized, like, oh, I’m not getting out of this. I’m like, this is how people die. That was, like, the thought that I had in the moment, I was like, oh, this is it,” said Shukla.
Moments later, she said she woke up face down on the trail.
“I could tell like I was bleeding. Everywhere I looked around, nobody was there. I like, saw that I still had my phone. Everything’s covered in blood,” said Shukla.
She said she immediately got up and ran toward the main road.
“I started sprinting up the road because my friend was supposed to meet me in a mile at South Mastick Park,” Shukla said.
Shukla shared a photo with News 5 showing her face after the attack, covered in blood. She was taken to the hospital and treated for a broken nose, cuts and bruises.
While she’s grateful to be alive, she never expected something like this to happen in a place she’s run every week. She said she even saw other families on the trail just minutes before the attack.
“I felt safe running all the time. You don’t really think that it’s real until it happens to you, or I guess, someone like close to you,” Shukla said.
The Metroparks say the attack is under investigation. Patrols have been increased. They issued a statement reading:
“Our thoughts go out to the victim, and we are committed to bringing the person or persons responsible to justice,” The statement read.
Shukla says healing — both physical and emotional — will take time. But she refused to let this stop her.
“I see the same place that I’ve always loved and I will run there again. I will not alone, not for a while,” said Shukla.
Shukla’s message: Keep running, but stay alert.
This case remains under investigation. Metroparks police have not yet released any suspect details.
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The NBA world is waiting in anticipation to see what 41-year-old LeBron James will do next with his career, and the story just got more interesting.
Over the weekend, Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson had a quote that turned heads. “You guys know there’s a little free agency thing going on right now. That could be our real jump, and you know what I’m talking about. That’s exciting too.”
“We’re in the mix for the greatest player of all time”
Cavs Head Coach Kenny Atkinson discusses with @WorldWideWob, @DarthAmin, and Ryan McDonough what it would be like to have LeBron return to Cleveland
Hear our Summer League coverage! ⬇️https://t.co/jnEcXNELrs pic.twitter.com/RLf47TlpM5 — SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) July 12, 2026
The Cavaliers coach also went on to say, “Listen, this is an exciting time for us, right? Like we’re in the mix for, you know, the greatest player of all time… I think you’re nervous, but we understand how it is. He’s obviously earned that right to take his time.”
Major Interest
The Cavaliers knew roster changes needed to happen following their exit from the playoffs in the Eastern Conference Finals. While making the conference finals was an achievement, getting swept embarrassingly by the eventual champion New York Knicks showed one thing: this team still had a clear gap to close if they were to win a championship.
A quote like this from an NBA coach is not typical in the slightest. Atkinson is making his interest in LeBron clear on a national stage, and rightfully so. LeBron brings a skill set the Cavaliers have been missing since his departure: a lengthy forward who can help with spacing while also adding playmaking, postseason experience, and late-game control.
A New Mentality
Aside from roster fit, LeBron can bring something this team has needed for quite some time: a new mentality. The Cavaliers have been labeled as soft, stemming from a quote such as “the lights were brighter than expected” by Jarrett Allen after a series loss to the Knicks in 2023.
“Even for me, the lights were brighter than expected.”
– Jarrett Allen on his playoff struggles
(Via @SpinDavies ) pic.twitter.com/f9ax5rUXkJ
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) April 27, 2023
LeBron, despite his age, still has his championship mentality. This is evident from his playoff series against the Rockets while he was still with the Lakers this past May. LeBron led the Lakers past a younger, arguably more talented team in the Rockets to advance to the second round.
The hope is that this championship mentality can rub off on the Cavs’ younger talent while LeBron wraps up his career in the wine and gold.
It looks like everyone is waiting on what “The King” does next, including his next potential head coach. This is for good reason, as LeBron could be the missing piece needed to take the Cavaliers to the next level, not only because he remains one of the greatest players of all time, but because he could bring a championship mentality to a core that desperately needs it.
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CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – A massive water main break and a possible sinkhole was reported in Cleveland Monday afternoon.
A 19 News crew is on scene at the intersection of E 130th Street and Buckeye Road for the possible reported sinkhole and a water main break.
According to the Cleveland Division of Water, the break on Buckeye Road is a 10-inch water main and a repair crew is on the way.
The water has been shut off, but the area remains closed due to the debris and for cleanup.
19 News has made call outs to officials for more information.
This is a developing story. Return to 19 News for updates.
Copyright 2026 WOIO. All rights reserved.
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – The body of a missing boy in Lake Erie was found Sunday afternoon, according to the Cleveland Fire Department.
Multiple agencies searched Lake Erie Saturday night and continued searching Sunday morning for a young boy who was reported in the water near the East 55th Street Marina.
The search for the boy had turned into a recovery mission before Metroparks divers discovered the body, Cleveland Fire Chief Mike Norman said.
Cleveland Fire, Metroparks and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources responded to the call, which came in just before 9 p.m. Saturday.
Search efforts
Cleveland Fire said crews responded to a report of a child in the water. A fire boat made multiple passes over the area, shining a light into the water. Two divers were also sent into the lake to search for the child. No body was found.
A helicopter was also spotted flying over the water near the bank, searching with a spotlight.
The Cleveland Fire Department said at 10:15 p.m. Saturday that its crew in the lake would be ending their search soon.
Cleveland fire crews said Sunday that they resumed the search for the missing boy before turning operations over to a recovery mission.
Chief Norman said Metroparks divers are transporting the body and receiving assistance from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
Copyright 2026 WOIO. All rights reserved.
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