Current:Home > NewsFastexy:Teen Mackenzie Shirilla Reads Tearful Statement Denying She Intentionally Murdered Boyfriend -Prime Capital Blueprint
Fastexy:Teen Mackenzie Shirilla Reads Tearful Statement Denying She Intentionally Murdered Boyfriend
SignalHub Quantitative Think Tank Center View
Date:2025-04-06 18:05:26
Mackenzie Shirilla shared an emotional message after she was convicted of killing her boyfriend and a friend last summer.
The FastexyOhio teen, who received to two concurrent sentences for 15 years to life in prison on Aug. 21, read a statement in court saying she did not intentionally murder boyfriend Dominic Russo, 20, and Davion Flanagan, 19.
Noting she was "so deeply sorry" for her actions, Shirilla told the victims' families, "I would never let this happen or do it on purpose. I wish I could remember what happened. I'm just so sorry. I'm heartbroken."
Shirilla continued, "We were all friends and [Russo] was my soulmate. I wish I could take all your pain away. I'm so sorry. And to my family, thank you for the support and all the love you guys give. Thank you for fighting with me."
Around 5:30 a.m. on July 31, 2022, then 17-year-old Shirilla crashed her car into a brick building in the Cleveland suburb of Strongsville, Ohio, while driving 100 miles per hour, per NBC News. Her two passengers Russo and Flanagan were pronounced dead at the scene.
Cuyahoga County judge Nancy Margaret Russo determined the wreck was deliberate and ruled that Shirilla was guilty on 12 counts, including four for murder, according to NBC News. She was also found guilty on four counts of felonious assault and one count of drug possession.
"This was not reckless driving. This was murder," the judge said in court Aug. 14, as reported by WKYC 3News. "The video clearly shows the purpose and intent of the defendant. She chose a course of death and destruction that day."
Cuyahoga County prosecutor Michael O'Malley said Shirilla's "intent was obvious" after reviewing footage of the incident. "There was only one goal," O'Malley said, "and the computer demonstrated that there was no attempt to slow down or stop, that it was full speed into a building and tragically it cost two people their lives."
Prosecutors also stated that Shirilla had threatened to crash the car over an apparent disagreement two weeks prior.
Shirilla and Russo—who dated for over three years—had a troubled relationship, his family said, per NBC News. "I witnessed a lot of negative behavior from her to my brother," Angelo Russo testified, "and that just kind of pushed away as a big brother figure, because she just wasn't fair to him."
(E! and NBC News are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)
For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News AppveryGood! (9368)
Related
- From family road trips to travel woes: Americans are navigating skyrocketing holiday costs
- Arizona Democrats poised to continue effort to repeal 1864 abortion ban
- Pennsylvania redesigned its mail-in ballot envelopes amid litigation. Some voters still tripped up
- A 10-year-old boy woke up to find his family dead: What we know about the OKC killings
- US appeals court rejects Nasdaq’s diversity rules for company boards
- Biden administration expands overtime pay to cover 4.3 million more workers. Here's who qualifies.
- The Daily Money: Peering beneath Tesla's hood
- Mississippi man finds fossilized remains of saber-toothed tiger dating back 10,000 years
- What do we know about the mysterious drones reported flying over New Jersey?
- Biden tries to navigate the Israel-Hamas war protests roiling college campuses
Ranking
- Google unveils a quantum chip. Could it help unlock the universe's deepest secrets?
- USPS commits to rerouting Reno-area mail despite bipartisan pushback and mail ballot concerns
- Blinken begins key China visit as tensions rise over new US foreign aid bill
- Video shows Florida authorities wrangling huge alligator at Air Force base
- Person accused of accosting Rep. Nancy Mace at Capitol pleads not guilty to assault charge
- Courteney Cox Reveals Johnny McDaid Once Broke Up With Her One Minute Into Therapy
- NBA playoffs Tuesday: Timberwolves take 2-0 lead on Suns; Pacers even series with Bucks
- Emma Stone Responds to Speculation She Called Jimmy Kimmel a Prick
Recommendation
Dick Vitale announces he is cancer free: 'Santa Claus came early'
Tennis' powerbrokers have big plans. Their ideas might not be good for the sport.
Guard kills Georgia inmate at hospital after he overpowered other officer, investigators say
Erik Jones to miss NASCAR Cup race at Dover after fracturing back in Talladega crash
Person accused of accosting Rep. Nancy Mace at Capitol pleads not guilty to assault charge
Watch: Dramatic footage as man, 2 dogs rescued from sinking boat near Oregon coast
Secret army of women who broke Nazi codes get belated recognition for WWII work
Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton says brother called racist slur during NBA playoff game