Cleveland, OH
Bail set at $5M for woman accused of fatally stabbing 3-year-old outside an Ohio supermarket
CLEVELAND (AP) — Bail was set at $5 million Monday for a woman who authorities say fatally stabbed a 3-year-old boy last week as he sat in a grocery cart outside an Ohio supermarket and wounded his mother.
The ruling by Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge Nancy Margaret Russo concluded an arraignment hearing for Bionca Ellis, 32, of Cleveland, that took three attempts and nearly an hour to complete, Cleveland.com reported.
Authorities have said Ellis was inside the Giant Eagle grocery store on June 3 in the Cleveland suburb of North Olmsted when she saw Julian Wood and his mother, Margot Wood, near the front and followed them into the parking lot,
The mother was about to load her groceries into her vehicle when Ellis ran at them with a knife, stabbing the boy twice, in an attack that took less than five seconds before Ellis walked away. The boy died at a hospital while Margot Wood was treated at a hospital for a stab wound to her shoulder — a wound prosecutors have said she suffered after trying to pull the boy out of the cart during the attack.
Authorities have not given a motivation for the attack, which they believe was a random incident. Ellis is being represented by the public defender’s office, which generally does not comment on cases.
On Monday, Ellis initially appeared via video from the county jail, but stared at the floor as Russo asked if she had a copy of the indictment that charged her with aggravated murder and other related counts. Ellis first told the judge “I don’t know,” then stopped answering despite multiple requests by the judge. Russo then asked Ellis why she wasn’t answering, and Ellis again remained silent.
The judge then moved on to other arraignments but called Ellis again a few minutes later and again asked her if she had the indictment. Ellis again said she didn’t know and an assistant public defender, whose office had represented Ellis in an unrelated matter, told Russo that Ellis had mental health issues and tried to waive Ellis’ right to review the indictment before being arraigned.
Russo refused, saying it wasn’t appropriate because prosecutors could seek the death penalty. She then ordered Ellis to appear in the courtroom and for the public defender’s office to review the indictment with her.
In the courtroom, Ellis said she asked assistant Cuyahoga County Public Defender Linda Hricko not to read her indictment. When Russo asked if Hricko did, Ellis whispered no but Hricko nodded her head yes. The judge then read all ten counts of the indictment aloud, and Ellis appeared to smile.
Speaking at Monday’s hearing as Ellis stood just a few feet away from him with her back turned, Julian’s father told the judge he didn’t want Ellis to be free on bond.
“There’s nothing that could ever replace my son, or anything my wife and I and our other kids are going through. It’s horrendous,” Jared Wood said, struggling to keep his composure. “Just do whatever you can to keep this monster behind bars.”
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – A multiple-vehicle crash closed the intersection of West 150th and Lorain Avenue in Cleveland for hours Friday.
Cleveland police reported Saturday the cause of the crash was the driver of a stolen 2017 GMC Acadia speeding westbound on Lorain Avenue.
When 22-year-old driver of the stolen car approached Warren Road and West 150 intersection it changed lines and stroked two vehicles.
One of the two vehicles pushed into a fourth vehicle and the fourth vehicle traveled into the eastbound lane striking the fifth vehicle.
Witness Joe Barto, whose car was involved said he heard the impact and then watched vehicles lose control. “We heard car squealing, we heard sheet metal, cars banging off each other,” Barto said. “The next thing you know, cars are just spinning.”
The crash happened about 5:20 p.m., during the evening commute, leaving several people trying to understand what led up to it. Barto said he immediately ran to help. “I just got out of the car and started running over to the cars that were trying to get people out of cars,” Barto said. “I think I was just in shock.”
One person was reported trapped in a vehicle, but that patient had been removed before firefighters arrived, according to the Cleveland Fire Department.
As debris remained scattered across the roadway, another witness, Abdul Binsunni said he claimed to pull that person trapped from a vehicle before firefighters arrived. “I made sure to proceed to pull out the lady outside of this car right here.”
One man who asked not to be identified told 19 News he believes his car was stolen and ended up involved in the crash. Another bystander said her car was hit by what she believes was that stolen vehicle near West 131st Street. Those claims have not been confirmed by police.
Jim Missirlis said the aftermath was hard to take in. “Looking at the aftermath, looking at all the debris over here, it’s pretty sad,” Missirlis said.
Cleveland Fire and EMS officials say additional resources were requested to the scene. EMS has transported up to five patients to the Fairview Emergency Department, according to Cleveland Fire.
Officials say that the intersection reopened around 9:30 p.m.
As of Saturday, the suspect remains at the hospital but has been placed under arrest for aggravated vehicular homicide, aggravated vehicular assault and grand theft of motor vehicle.
One of the drivers in the crash was a 54-year-old man and he transported to the hospital before being pronounced dead.
Once the suspect is medically cleared, he will be transported to the Cuyahoga County jail.
An investigation is being conducted by the Accident Investigative Unit.
Copyright 2026 WOIO. All rights reserved.
CLEVELAND (WJW) — A crash involving multiple vehicles on Cleveland’s west side Friday evening led to multiple people being taken to the hospital, officials told FOX 8 News.
Cleveland police said they are investigating after crashes took place at the intersection of West 150th Street and Lorain Avenue around 6 p.m. Cleveland Division of Fire and EMS were also called to the scene.
Cleveland Division of Fire said that one person was reported trapped in a vehicle, but has been removed.
The fire department originally described the crash as a “possible multiple casualty motor vehicle collision.”
Cleveland EMS later confirmed that five people between the ages of 23 and 54 were injured in the incident and taken to either Cleveland Clinic Fairview Hospital or MetroHealth Medical Center. One 22-year-old woman was considered critical Friday night. A 54-year-old man had a trauma arrest, according to EMS. Two others were considered stable and another was still in serious condition.
Drivers were asked to avoid the area following the crash.
No further information has been released at this time. Check back for updates on this developing story.
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