A 3-year-old boy has been killed after an apparent random stabbing outside a grocery store in the Cleveland metropolitan area, authorities said Monday.
The boy and his mother were attacked just after 3 p.m. in the parking lot of a Giant Eagle supermarket in North Olmsted, a western suburb of Cleveland, Ohio, police said in a news release.
When responding officers arrived at the scene, witnesses described the suspect, who was then located walking down Dover Center Road and arrested.
The suspect, later identified as 32-year-old Bionca Ellis, was reportedly still carrying the knife used in the attack when she was taken into custody, local television station WEWS reported.
The two victims, described by North Olmsted Mayor Nicole Dailey Jones as a “female customer and her 3-year-old son” were rushed to a local hospital for treatment,
“Our hearts go out to the two victims of what appears to be a random act of violence,” Jones said in a statement Monday afternoon.
The female victim was identified by local media as 38-year-old Margot Wood, of North Olmsted. She was treated for non-life-threatening injuries and is expected to recover, Cleveland 19 reported
Her son, 3-year-old Julian Wood, died from his injuries.
Ellis was charged with aggravated murder. Additional charges are expected to be filed once the case is presented to a grand jury in Cuyahoga County.
According to police, Ellis had no prior interaction with the victims. She also has no known violent criminal history.
“Everything learned thus far points that this was a random act of violence.,” Det. Sgt. Matthew Beck said.
Ellis is expected to be arraigned later on Tuesday.
