A Cleveland woman, Bionca Ellis, was indicted on Wednesday for murder, attempted murder, and various other charges stemming from the tragic stabbing death of a 3-year-old boy outside of a grocery store in North Olmsted, Ohio. Ellis, 32, is accused of fatally stabbing young Julian Wood during an attack on him and his mother on a fateful Monday outside of a Giant Eagle store in the city.
Following multiple 911 calls regarding the stabbing incident in the grocery store’s parking lot, North Olmsted police swiftly responded. Police spokesperson Matt Beck stated that all available information at the time suggested that the violent act was random, and there was no prior connection between the defendant and the victims.
Julian suffered two stab wounds, while his mother sustained one stab wound in the shoulder. Tragically, Julian passed away shortly after being rushed to a nearby hospital by paramedics. In addition to murder and attempted murder charges, Ellis faces indictments for aggravated murder, endangering children, tampering with evidence, aggravated theft, and two counts of felonious assault.
Surveillance video footage captured Ellis wielding a knife and moving around the shopping center where the fatal attack took place. The video shows her handling the knife and eventually walking out of the frame. According to court records, Ellis allegedly stole two knives from a nearby thrift store before carrying out the violent assault on Julian and his mother.
Prior to the attack, court records revealed that Ellis had been in the process of being evicted from her subsidized apartment in Cleveland due to missed rent payments. Real estate company K&D, which managed the property, had filed a complaint in Cleveland Housing Court seeking her removal, granting the request in a subsequent court ruling.
An outpouring of support for the Wood family has been witnessed through a GoFundMe page set up by Julian’s mother’s relatives and friends. The page, filled with heart-wrenching sentiments, aims to help the grieving family cover funeral expenses and other costs in the wake of the tragic loss. As the community continues to rally behind the family, donations have far exceeded the initial goal, reaching over $190,000.
As the case unfolds, the devastating impact of the incident reverberates throughout the North Olmsted community, leaving many in shock and sorrow over the senseless act of violence that claimed the life of an innocent child. The legal proceedings against Ellis will continue as authorities work to bring justice for the Wood family amid an overwhelming wave of support and sympathy from the public.