Cleveland, OhioMackenzie Shirilla, 20, was found guilty of causing the deliberate vehicle accident that killed her boyfriend, Dominic Russo, 20, and his friend, Davion Flanagan, 19, and was given a life sentence with the chance of release after 15 years.
When security footage showed that Shirilla intentionally crashed into a brick wall at a high speed, she was found guilty of several offenses, including murder, in a bench trial held in August 2023. Shirilla killed both passengers in the collision after turning slowly from Pearl Road onto Alameda Drive and then speeding down the street.
Judge Nancy Margaret Russo stated during sentence that the defendant’s motive and intent are evident in the video. That day, she decided to pursue a path of devastation and death.
Judge Russo emphasized that whether Shirilla wanted to hurt herself was unimportant to the case and characterized her conduct as controlled, systematic, deliberate, intentional, and purposeful.
Citing Shirilla’s wheelchair-bound attendance at a performance while recuperating from the collision, prosecutors contended that Shirilla shown an astonishing lack of regret. Shirilla shook her head when Christine Russo, the mother of Dominic Russo, denounced her behavior during victim impact statements.
Christine Russo stated in court that this was not a car accident, but no one wanted this to be a murder or to punish Mackenzie Shirilla for the mishap. Science and the proof demonstrated that Mackenzie Shirilla killed both my son Dominic and Davion.
