NORTH OLMSTED, Ohio(WJW)— Donations are pouring into a GoFundMe account set up to aid the family of a 3-year-old boy who was stabbed to death in a grocery store parking lot.
A woman suspected of stabbing and killing the 3-year-old boy was given a $1 million bond in court on Tuesday afternoon. The day before, the toddler and his mother were attacked and stabbed outside the Giant Eagle on Lorain Road in North Olmsted.
Officials said at about 3 p.m. on Monday, June 3, a mother and her son had just finished grocery shopping and appeared to be headed back to their vehicle when a woman wearing all black charged at them with a kitchen knife, stabbing both of them.
Multiple shoppers called 911. Responding officers came to give first aid and quickly arrested Bionca Ellis, 32, of Cleveland, who was found walking toward Dover Center Road, reportedly still holding the weapon.
Ellis was arraigned via video from jail Tuesday afternoon, where her bond was set at $1 million. She has been charged with aggravated murder, according to police.
The victims were rushed to St. John Medical Center in Westlake.
On Tuesday morning, the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner confirmed that 3-year-old Julian Wood of North Olmsted died at the hospital. The child’s 38-year-old mother, Margot Wood, “was treated for non-life threatening injuries and is expected to make a full recovery,” police said.
Police detective Sgt. Matt Beck acknowledged later Tuesday that though Margot will physically recover, the emotional trauma will likely follow her “the rest of her life.”
Loved ones organized a GoFundMe page for the family, which has raised more than $90,000, as of Wednesday morning.
“Our family is overwhelmed with sadness… and overwhelmed with the loving support the community has already provided us,” the GoFundMe page said, in part. “This will be an incredibly long journey to recovery, but truthfully we will never recover – but we will continue to share stories about our beautiful baby boy, his laugh, his cheesy smile, his rambunctious attitude, his love of dinosaurs, his love of school, his obsession with his new baby sister and wrestling his big brother every chance he gets… and all the other beautiful things about that sweet little boy.”
Police said the attack appeared to be random and that they did not believe the victims had interacted prior to the incident.
Beck said Ellis was seen on surveillance video obtaining the knife from a nearby Volunteers of America store. Cameras showed her walking into the grocery store, where she passed Margot and Julian Wood. She then followed them back out to their car, with the knife in hand.
Julian Wood was stabbed in the face and back and Margot was stabbed in the shoulder — all in the span of five seconds, Beck said. Ellis then started walking away, he said.
Ellis, who was still carrying the knife, did not resist during her arrest, Beck said. She refused to speak to North Olmsted detectives on Tuesday and instead “lawyered up,” Beck said.
Ellis does not have a history of violent crime. She was previously arrested in Florida on a non-violent crime. In North Olmsted, she was arrested in 2023 for a petty theft from a Walmart, to which she pleaded guilty and was placed on probation, Beck said.
She was arrested last week on a probation violation and was held for court, he said. On Monday before the attack, she was at the police station inquiring about property she had left behind, Beck said.
North Olmsted Mayor Nicole Dailey Jones released an updated statement late Tuesday morning:
First and foremost, I want to express my deepest and most sincere condolences to the family of the three-year-old boy who unfortunately passed away yesterday after being stabbed in a random attack at the North Olmsted Giant Eagle supermarket.
This was a terrible tragedy for our entire community. As North Olmsted Mayor, and a mother myself, I cannot fathom what this family must be going through. To lose their youngest child in such a violent and senseless manner is absolutely heartbreaking. I know that all the residents of North Olmsted join me in sharing their profound grief.
We are all terribly sorry for their loss and I ask everyone to keep them in thought and prayer. Our police department continues its on-going investigation of the crime as we attempt to begin healing and moving forward. I commend all our safety forces for their compassion and swift response in the wake of this situation.
The City will be offering grief counseling to all our employees who are in need of those services. The safety of all our residents continues to be a top priority of my administration.
The police station is just across the street from the Giant Eagle.
Many people in the area were understandably shaken Monday following the attack.
“It’s just crazy,” said shopper Ben Hymes. “Society is going downhill quick.”
“You can’t really trust anybody,” said shopper Randy Adams. “And if you make eye contact with the wrong person you never know if they’re going to physically do something.”
Beck, a 17-year member of the North Olmsted Police Department, said officers take resident safety seriously — but they can’t be everywhere at once.
“I would strongly encourage those to keep your head on a swivel, pay attention to your surroundings. If something doesn’t look right, call the police department. We’ll come and investigate it, no problem,” he said.
This Giant Eagle is the same store where there was a murder-suicide less than a year ago. It involved a divorced couple.
The Giant Eagle store reopened on Tuesday morning.
A Giant Eagle spokesperson released a statement to FOX 8 Tuesday:
We were heartbroken to learn of the passing of the young victim in yesterday’s senseless act of violence. Our thoughts are with the child, his mother and their loved ones during this unimaginably difficult time.
Wethank the North Olmsted Mayor’s Office and the community’s first responders for their unwavering commitment. We are providing counseling services to our store teams and are ready to support our North Olmsted neighbors however we can.
A preliminary hearing for Ellis has been set for Monday, June 10, at 10:30 a.m.
