UMVA has obtained explosive bodycam footage that reveals Mackenzie Shirilla's father, Steven Shirilla, berating police and demanding they not question his daughter after her arrest in a deadly crash that killed two people.
The shocking video, which has brought new attention to the Ohio murder case dubbed "hell on wheels," shows Steven Shirilla arriving at the Strongsville Police Department on November 4, 2022, after his 18-year-old daughter was taken into custody.
"I need to speak to my daughter," Steven Shirilla is heard telling officers, insisting that they were not allowed to speak with her. When officers told him Mackenzie was 18 and could speak for herself, he shot back: "Yeah, but she's a dumb 18-year-old that just turned 18."
The disturbing comment was met with a protest from his wife, Natalie Shirilla, but Steven Shirilla doubled down, adding: "All the kids nowadays are dumb." He repeatedly insisted that police were not allowed to question his daughter and demanded to speak with her to ensure she didn't say anything to investigators.
As officers left the station's lobby, Steven Shirilla yelled: "Don't ask her any questions!" The bodycam video provides a new glimpse into the frantic moments after Shirilla's arrest and has raised more questions about the case.
Mackenzie Shirilla, now 21, is serving two concurrent sentences of 15 years to life in prison for killing her boyfriend, Dominic Russo, 20, and their friend, Davion Flanagan, 19, in a deliberate crash on July 31, 2022.
Prosecutors argued at trial that Shirilla drove into a brick building to end her toxic relationship with Russo, while Flanagan was an unintended victim who happened to be in the car. However, Shirilla has maintained that the crash was not intentional.
The case has sparked widespread outrage, and Steven Shirilla's behavior has raised concerns about his involvement in the case. In a related development, it has been learned that Steven Shirilla will not be returning to his teaching position at Mary Queen of Peace School.
The aftermath of the fatal crash was captured on other body camera footage, with officers sifting through the annihilated vehicle as they pieced together the case. Police records show that Strongsville officers responded to the scene around 6:15 a.m. on July 31, 2022, after the Camry struck a building at 11792 Alameda Drive in Strongsville.
Mackenzie Shirilla was removed from the driver's seat and flown to MetroHealth Medical Center, while Russo and Flanagan were pronounced dead after being mechanically extricated from the wreckage.
