NORTH OLMSTED, Ohio — Newly released surveillance video shows a suspect’s actions before an attack that killed a 3-year-old boy and injured his mother in northeast Ohio.
The footage shows Bionca Ellis at the North Olmstead police station prior to the incident. She can later be seen inside the Giant Eagle just up the road walking around the store with a knife in her hand.
WARNING: While we are not showing the actual stabbing, the video still may be disturbing to watch for some. Viewer discretion is advised.
Around 2:30 p.m., Ellis walked into the North Olmsted Police Department on Lorain Road, pushing her own wheelchair with a suitcase. Authorities say she was there in connection with her arrest the week before that was tied to a previous theft offense.
During that encounter, officers took her into custody, but let her go. That was four days before the incident at Giant Eagle.
After leaving the police station on Monday, Ellis was seen exiting the Volunteers of America Thrift Store, where police claim she stole two knives. After she allegedly stopped at Bins & Things, she went back west to Giant Eagle.
At 2:58 p.m., the video shows Ellis walking past the Giant Eagle service desk with a knife waving in her hand by her side, but no one appears to see it or do anything to stop her. As she walked past the cash registers, she passed Margot Wood and her 3-year-old son Julian (their faces are blurred in the footage, per officials) before immediately turning around and starting to follow them. She continued behind them as they left the store, and is seen following them through the parking lot.
"Somewhere near their vehicle, Ms. Ellis then attacked the two of them," officials said.
Police have described the stabbing as a "random act of violence." Julian died from his injuries at University Hospitals St. John Medical Center, while 32-year-old Margot suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
A Cuyahoga County grand jury has since indicted Ellis on 10 charges including aggravated murder. She is currently being held on a $5 million bond.