In Strongsville, Ohio, 19-year-old Mackenzie Shirilla has been declared guilty on a total of 12 counts, with murder among the charges.
On July 31, 2022, in the pre-dawn hours, Shirilla intentionally drove her vehicle into a brick building at a speed reaching 100 mph. This action claimed the lives of two individuals in her vehicle: Dominic Russo, 20, and Davion Flanagan, 19.
While Shirilla was initially found unconscious, she subsequently made a complete recovery.
The court’s decision, pronounced by Judge Nancy Margaret Russo of the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court on August 14, ruled the act as murder instead of reckless conduct. Security cameras documented the car’s unexpected acceleration and its intended path into the brick structure.
The prosecution pointed out Shirilla’s possible objective to end a strained relationship with Russo, her boyfriend. She also reportedly used marijuana with the victims before the incident and had THC in her system that exceeded the legal limit. The intent behind the crash was clear in the video recordings, a fact underscored by Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael O’Malley. However, the defense presented challenges to the asserted intent.
As per the court’s decision, Shirilla will serve a life term, with an opportunity for parole after 15 years.
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