On July 31, 2022, in Strongsville, Ohio, 17-year-old Mackenzie Shirilla crashed her 2018 Toyota Camry into a brick wall at more than 100 miles per hour. The crash split the car in two and killed her boyfriend, Dominic Russo, 20, and his friend, Davion Flanagan, 19. Shirilla survived with serious injuries. Her foot was still on the accelerator when rescuers arrived 45 minutes later.
Mackenzie Shirilla’s Early Life
Mackenzie Shirilla grew up in Strongsville with her parents, Natalie and Steve Shirilla. She had just finished Strongsville High School and was well-known among classmates. Many remembered her style and personality which were influenced by Regina George from Mean Girls. Over a hundred girls reportedly followed her around school.
She also had a popular TikTok account. Mackenzie posted about her lifestyle, her outfits and often shared videos of herself driving around town. She received clothing and product samples from companies for her videos. She spent a lot of time at the Russo household where she lived with her boyfriend Dominic and spent time with his family.
Dominic Russo had graduated from Strongsville High School and ran several businesses. He and Mackenzie had been together for about four years and started living together in 2021. His brother said the relationship had been rocky, with frequent breakups and reunions, the NBC News reports.
About six months before the crash, their relationship got tense. Dominic’s mother, Christine Russo, reported that Mackenzie had been abusive toward him. In July 2022, Dominic called his mom in distress.
Christine sent a family friend to check on him. The friend witnessed Mackenzie yelling, “I’m going to wreck this car right now,” and trying to hit Dominic. A video from July also showed Mackenzie threatening to break into Dominic’s house.
Davion Flanagan was 19 and a mutual friend of Mackenzie and Dominic. He was adopted at age eight by Jamie Flanagan after a difficult early life with his biological family. On the night of the crash, he joined Mackenzie and Dominic on their outing.
The Fatal Crash
On July 30, 2022, Mackenzie, Dominic and Davion went out together. Around 10:15 p.m., they attended a graduation party at the house of Mackenzie’s friend, Kelly Vraja. They stayed less than an hour, then drove to Paul Burlinghouse’s house at 11 p.m. There, they listened to music and smoked marijuana until 5:30 a.m. on July 31.
At 5:34 a.m., CCTV captured Mackenzie’s Camry slowly turning at an unlit intersection. One minute later, another camera showed the car speeding off. It eventually hit speeds over 100 mph before smashing into a brick wall near a factory in Progress Drive Business Park, close to Pearl Road. Dominic was in the front passenger seat and Davion sat in the back.
First responders arrived 45 minutes later. They found all three unconscious. Body camera footage showed officers calling the car split in two and describing it as the “worst” crash they had ever seen. Both Dominic and Davion were pronounced dead at the scene. Police found psilocybin mushrooms and a digital scale in Mackenzie’s possession.
Shirilla suffered multiple fractures and was airlifted to a hospital for surgery. Witnesses said she seemed “inconsolable” after learning of the deaths.
Investigation and Arrest
While in the hospital, Mackenzie posted videos on TikTok showing the medical ward. Her account gained even more followers. She shared videos of herself in a wheelchair at concerts and one satirical video saying, “I’m just one of those girls that can do a lot of drugs and not die.” She also posted Halloween photos of Dominic and Davion dressed as corpses, per Wikipedia.
This behavior raised concerns for Davion’s sister, who asked her family to contact police.
Initially, police treated the crash as an accident. Mechanics checked the car and confirmed it was working properly. Mackenzie claimed she blacked out and didn’t remember what happened.
Investigators later suspected intent. They believed Mackenzie may have tried a murder-suicide because Dominic wanted to break up. GPS data showed she had visited the crash site three days prior, possibly scouting it.
On November 4, 2022, after leaving the hospital, Mackenzie was arrested on 17 charges including two counts of aggravated murder and one count of drug trafficking. Bodycam footage released in 2025 showed her crying in the back of a police cruiser, then closing her eyes and appearing calm.
Charges and Trial
A Cuyahoga County grand jury indicted Mackenzie on 12 felony counts: four for murder, four for felonious assault, two for aggravated vehicular homicide, plus drug possession and criminal tools.
Her lawyer, James McDonnell, chose a bench trial before Judge Nancy Margaret Russo instead of a jury. The trial was in August 2023.
The defense claimed there was no proof she intended to hurt anyone. Mackenzie did not testify.
On August 14, 2023, Judge Russo found her guilty on all charges: murder, felonious assault, aggravated vehicular homicide, drug possession and possession of criminal tools. The judge called her actions premeditated and described her as “hell on wheels.” Prosecutors pointed to her social media videos, showing a lack of remorse.
Sentencing
Sentencing started on August 21, 2023. Davyne Flanagan, Davion’s sister, asked for “the longest possible sentence.” Christine Russo told Mackenzie she should be “thankful” she was still alive. Mackenzie read a tearful statement:
“I hope one day you can see 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. … I wish I could take all your pain away.”
According to Dailymail, Judge Nancy Margaret Russo sentenced her to two life terms, running at the same time, with parole eligibility after 15 years—one for Dominic, one for Davion. She said the crash was “controlled, methodical, deliberate, intentional and purposeful” and not reckless driving. Mackenzie’s license was permanently suspended.
The prosecutor’s office said the murder was premeditated and that Mackenzie chose 5:30 a.m. for quiet streets. Tim Troup from the office said Mackenzie “meant to end the relationship, and she took everybody that was in the car with her.”
Appeals and Current Status
Mackenzie appealed on September 25, 2023, claiming there wasn’t enough evidence and some clerical mistakes. That appeal was denied. A second appeal in April 2025 was also rejected as “untimely.” Mackenzie’s family told WKYC in May 2025 that they still believed the crash was not intentional.
As of 2025, Mackenzie, now 21, is at the Ohio Reformatory for Women. Her parole hearing is set for 2038.
Friends of Dominic and Davion created a memorial near the crash site. Davion’s family also set up the Davion Flanagan Memorial Scholarship to help students interested in barbering.
The case got a lot of attention. YouTube features the podcast Hell on Wheels and Court TV has a documentary. True crime series Killer Cases covered it in season 4, episode 12 and Investigation Discovery aired a 2025 documentary.
In 2023, Republican politician Armstrong Williams wrote an op-ed saying Mackenzie’s name had been “etched into the annals of a society.” Footage from the crash, jail transport and sentencing has appeared on Court TV, New York Post and WKYC.
