A horrific incident unfolded outside a Giant Eagle grocery store in North Olmsted, Ohio, where a 3-year-old boy was fatally stabbed and his mother was injured in what authorities describe as a random act of violence. The attack occurred around 3 pm on Monday, approximately 20 miles southwest of Cleveland.
The suspect, identified as Bionca Ellis, 32, of Cleveland, reportedly purchased a butcher or kitchen knife at a nearby Volunteers of America thrift store before heading to the grocery store, according to Sgt. . Matt Beck, a North Olmsted police detective, video footage from inside the Giant Eagle captured Ellis noticing Margot Wood and her young son, and then following them to the parking lot where the attack took place.
“Somewhere near their vehicle, Ms. Ellis attacked the two of them,” said Sgt. Beck detailed during a press conference. Despite immediate efforts by authorities to save his life, the young man succumbed to his injuries, which included stab wounds to the face and back. His mother, Margot Wood, suffered a shoulder injury, he said Breitbart News.
The circumstances under which Ellis obtained the knife remain unclear, nor is it clear whether she had paid for it. Sergeant. Beck said there was no obvious altercation or provocation inside the store before the attack. “The video showed that they just crossed paths,” he explained. “EM. Ellis turned around, looked at her, and followed her to the door.”
Described as a random attack by investigators, there appears to be no known connection between Ellis and the victims. Ellis was arrested on a charge of aggravated murder and was found carrying the knife at the time of her arrest. The community has been stunned by the incident, with Nicole, Mayor of North Olmsted Dailey Jones expressing her condolences. “Our hearts go out to the victims of what appears to be a random act of violence,” she said.
This is not the first encounter Ellis has had with authorities. North Olmsted police previously arrested her for petty theft at a Walmart and she was involved in a non-violent crime in Florida. Sergeant. Beck mentioned that there was nothing in Ellis’ past that indicated violent tendencies. It is unknown if she has legal representation at this time. The community and local authorities are now dealing with the aftermath of this senseless tragedy while trying to piece together the motive behind such a devastating act.