NORTH OLMSTED, Ohio — A Cuyahoga County grand jury has indicted 32-year-old Bionca Ellis, the suspect accused of the double stabbing at Giant Eagle in North Olmsted which resulted in the death of 3-year-old Julian Wood.
“This case is truly devastating. I want to express my heartfelt condolences to the Wood family during this difficult time,” said Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael O’Malley. “As a father, I could not begin to imagine this grief, but I can promise that we will do everything in our power to bring justice for Julian Wood and the Wood family.”
Ellis was indicted on the following charges:
- One count of aggravated murder
- Two counts of murder
- Two counts of attempted murder
- Two counts of felonious assault
- One count of endangering children
- One count of tampering with evidence
- One count of misdemeanor theft
An arraignment for Ellis is set for Monday, June 10 in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court.
The incident happened on Monday afternoon when the child and his mother, Margot Wood, were stabbed in the North Olmsted Giant Eagle parking lot by a Black female dressed in all black.
Both were taken to the hospital for treatment, but the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office said Julian died from his injuries. Margot is expected to make a full recovery, according to police.
Police say when they arrived at the scene, they saw Ellis walking toward Dover Center Road with a kitchen knife that was allegedly used in the attack. Police arrested her without resistance.
WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE SUSPECT
"The investigation into the motive of this attack is still ongoing, but everything learned thus far points that this was a random act of violence," reports North Olmsted Police Det. Sgt. Matt Beck. "Ellis and the victims had no prior interactions before this incident. Ellis is known to the North Olmsted Police Department for a prior offense of theft but has no known violent criminal history."
During a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, Beck explained that Ellis apparently obtained "a butcher knife or some kind of kitchen knife" at the Volunteers of America thrift store next to Giant Eagle. He added that cameras showed Ellis walking out of the thrift store and into Giant Eagle, where "she spotted Wood and her son and proceeded to follow them out to the parking lot. Somewhere near their vehicle, Ellis attacked them."
Ellis made an initial appearance in Rocky River Municipal Court on Tuesday on a charge of aggravated murder and had bond set at $1 million.