Mackenzie Shirilla faced the full wrath of justice today after a judge found her guilty of murdering her boyfriend and his friend by driving into the side of a building at 100mph. Accusations that what happened was an act of payback for a tumultuous relationship were backed by evidence from police and prosecutors, making for a catastrophically grim situation.
On July 22, 2022, Mackenzie, now 19, drove her Toyota Camry at extremely high speed into a corner of the Plidco Building in Strongsville. Alongside her were her boyfriend, 20-year-old Dominic Russo, and his 19-year-old friend Davion Flanagan. All three had smoked marijuana prior to Mackenzie getting behind the wheel.
Unfortunately for Mackenzie’s two passengers, the crash was no accident. Surveillance footage showed that she had prior knowledge of her route and only accelerated as she neared the building, making it clear that her intent was to end her own life as well as that of her boyfriend and his friend.
Prosecutors said that Mackenzie entered into what they called a ‘mission of death’ following a tumultuous relationship. On one occasion, friends had to break up a fight between her and Dominic, and she was overheard threatening to crash with him inside. Unfortunatly, her plan worked, as Travis and Flanagan were pronounced dead at the scene and Mackenzie required multiple surgeries.
Judge Russo concluded that Mackenzie was ‘literal hell on wheels’, and that she had made a calculated decision to murder the two boys in her car. ‘He was friends with Dominic, and Davion was just cargo. He was just a suitcase in the backseat in the defendant’s mind,’ said prosecutor Michael O’Malley.
Mackenzie’s conviction carries a sentence of life in prison with parole eligibility after 15 years. Her defense attorneys will appeal, but Mackenzie will stand trial again in August 2021 to be formally sentenced.
