(RestoreAmericanGlory.com) – A young woman from Ohio was found guilty on Monday of purposefully driving her vehicle at high speeds into a building with the intent of taking the lives of her boyfriend and his companion.
The court heard how the 19-year-old’s act was calculated, intentional, and premeditated. “This wasn’t just an accident caused by careless driving. It was a calculated act of taking lives,” remarked Judge Nancy Margaret Russo while addressing the actions of Mackenzie Shirilla.
Upon hearing the verdict, Shirilla was overwhelmed with emotion, having been found responsible for the deaths of Dominic Russo, 20, her boyfriend, and his friend, Davion Flanagan, 19.
The decision was made solely by the judge, as the trial proceeded without a jury. The incident, which occurred in Strongsville, roughly 20 miles from Cleveland, took place on July 31, 2022.
As per local media source Cleveland.com, her guilty verdict comes with a life sentence, though she may be eligible for parole after serving 15 years.
Judge Russo highlighted surveillance footage as pivotal in the case against Shirilla. The video captured the horrifying instant when she sped up on Alameda Drive, crashing her Toyota Camry into a business property’s wall. “Such evidence leaves an indelible mark. She was on a mission, one that she executed meticulously, aiming for a deadly outcome,” the judge commented.
The judge further observed that Shirilla’s demeanor in the footage shifted from that of a conscientious motorist to one of reckless abandon.
In the days leading up to the tragic event, Shirilla, who was 17 at the time, had scouted the same location, hinting at premeditation, the judge noted.
Following the verdict, the county prosecutor, Michael O’Malley, shared with the media that Shirilla’s tumultuous relationship with her boyfriend drove her to commit the act. Her intent was to end his life, and his friend’s life was taken as collateral damage.
Upon impact, both Russo and Flanagan lost their lives on the spot, while Shirilla was left unconscious, ensnared within the wreckage.
Representing Shirilla, attorney Jim McDonnell contended that there wasn’t enough evidence to show that the crash was premeditated, suggesting instead that she might have lost control of the car due to negligence. Cleveland.com reported that all three individuals had consumed marijuana prior to the tragic event. Shirilla’s family has expressed their intention to challenge the court’s decision.
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