The family of a three-year-old boy who was stabbed to death next to his mother in a supermarket car park are ‘overwhelmed with grief’.
Margot Wood, 38, was about to load groceries into the trunk of her car with her son Julian at Giant Eagle in North Olmstead, Cleveland, around 3 p.m. Monday.
Suddenly, a Bionca Ellis, 32, who had followed them out of the store, charged at the pair and allegedly stabbed them while Julian was in the shopping cart.
Both were rushed to St John Medical Center but Julian died from the stream of stab wounds to his back and cheek. His mother’s injuries were not life-threatening.
Julian Wood, 3, died after being stabbed with his mother outside an Ohio supermarket
Julian was killed and his mother Margot Wood, 38, injured. They are pictured at right, with the boy’s grandmother, father Jared Wood and older brother
Wood’s family has raised more than $210,000 so far for Margot’s husband Jared as he tries to pay for Julian’s funeral, legal bills and his wife’s recovery.
“Our family is overwhelmed with grief,” they wrote in a collective statement.
‘We have no explanation as to how or why this happened, it was a random act of violence. There was no prior altercation, they did not know each other… this was a malicious, random act.
“She has devastated our family beyond belief, she has taken something from us that we can never get back.”
Heartbreaking photos from the scene showed messages strewn across the asphalt of the car park where the mother and son were attacked.
Julian’s family said they were overwhelmed by the support they received from friends and strangers as they begin a “long journey to recovery.”
Police arrested Bionca Ellis, 32, (pictured) as she walked away from the scene, still clutching a bloody kitchen knife allegedly used in the attack
Julian (right) with his older brother at Christmas 2022 when he was two years old
“We will continue to share stories about our beautiful baby boy, his laugh, his goofy smile, his boisterous attitude, his love of dinosaurs, his love of school,” they wrote.
“His obsession with his new baby sister and wrestling with his big brother every chance he gets… and everything else wonderful about that sweet little boy.”
Julian was born in November 2020 when his parents posted adorable photos of him as a newborn in his older brother’s arms.
The family said they hoped for “some kind of justice.”
Police arrested Ellis as she walked away from the scene, still clutching a bloody kitchen knife allegedly used in the attack.
Detective Sergeant Matthew Beck said North Olmsted police had no motive for the attack, calling it “completely a random act of violence.”
Heartbreaking photos from the scene showed messages strewn across the asphalt of the car park where the mother and son were attacked
Julian was stabbed as he sat in his mother’s shopping trolley and saw her lying on his side after the attack
Ellis was arrested several days earlier, on May 29, when police investigating an unrelated incident at a Walmart detained her for a parole violation.
But she was released hours later and on Monday morning, Ellis went to North Olmsted police to discuss her arrest.
Beck said she then bought the knife at a Volunteers of America thrift store and walked to the Giant Eagle, where she saw Wood and her son inside.
They did not interact with each other at all, but Ellis allegedly followed them into the parking lot and charged at them brandishing the knife.
Ellis has “no known violent criminal history” and her criminal record only consisted of stealing from a nearby Walmart, which was reduced to unauthorized use of property.
She was charged with aggravated murder and arraigned Tuesday afternoon in Rocky River Municipal Court, where her bail was set at $1 million.
Police said she could face more charges if the case is presented to the Cuyahoga County Grand Jury.
Julian and Wood were rushed to St John Medical Center but Julian died from the flurry of stab wounds to his back and cheek. His mother’s injuries were not life-threatening
Julian was born in November 2020 when his parents posted adorable photos of him as a newborn, cradled in his older brother’s arms
Julian plays with his older brother at their home, while friends comment on how quickly he grew
Giant Eagle said it was providing guidance to its employees.
“We were heartbroken to learn that the young victim of yesterday’s senseless act of violence has passed away,” the statement said.
“Our thoughts are with the child, his mother and their loved ones at this incredibly difficult time.”
The same Giant Eagle was the scene of a murder-suicide on June 25 last year.
Bernard Smith shot dead his ex-wife Susan Petterson, 63, as she worked at the store before turning the gun on herself, 20 years after they divorced in 2004.