3-year-old killed in random stabbing outside Ohio store without security, lawsuit says
.png "Three-year-old Julian Wood was fatally stabbed at an Ohio supermarket.")
The parents of a 3-year-old boy who was killed in a random act of violence are suing the grocery store where it happened, saying the lack of security is to blame.
On June 3, Margot Wood went to the Giant Eagle in North Olmsted with her son Julian Wood, according to a lawsuit filed Oct. 14 against the grocery store chain.
McClatchy News reached out to Giant Eagle for comment Oct. 16 but did not immediately hear back.
While at the store, Bionca Ellis was walking around the entrance of the grocery store, carrying a 10-inch knife, the lawsuit said.
“While inside of the grocery store, Bionca Ellis, while brandishing her knife, walked past multiple Giant Eagle employees at the customer service desk and then (proceeded) to walk past and around customers and Giant Eagle employees near the self-scan checkout,” the court document said.
While Ellis was walking around, Margot Wood and Julian exited the store, the lawsuit said. Ellis then walked past employees and followed them into the parking lot, according to the lawsuit.
Ellis then unprovokedly attacked Margot Wood and Julian with the knife, the lawsuit said. Julian died immediately from his wounds, and Margot Wood was taken to a hospital.
Ellis left the scene but was later arrested, according to WOIO.
The lawsuit said the Giant Eagle store had surveillance videos in which Ellis was in plain view of when she was walking around with the knife. Had employees been monitoring the surveillance footage, they would have seen her prior to the attack, the court document said.
It also said that “shootings and violent assaults were repeatedly happening inside and around big-box stores such as supermarkets generally, Giant Eagle supermarkets specifically and the North Olmsted Giant Eagle supermarket.”
One year prior, on June 25, 2023, a man went into the store with a gun and fatally shot an employee, the lawsuit said. After the shooting, the lawsuit said security was added at the entrance, but was then later removed.
“This is a clear liability negligent security case arising from a corporation putting profits over safety,” the lawsuit said.
Julian had a “rambunctious attitude” and loved dinosaurs, a GoFundMe page said. He loved school and his new baby sister, as well as wrestling with his big brother.
“This was entirely a random act of violence,” Det. Sgt. Matthew Beck said at a June news conference, according to WOIO.
Ellis has been charged with aggravated murder, two counts of murder, two counts of attempted murder, two counts of felonious assault, endangering children, tampering with evidence and theft, according to WKYC.
She was ruled incompetent to stand trial and was receiving treatment at Northcoast Behavioral Healthcare, according to the news outlet.
A previous statement from Giant Eagle shared with WOIO said, “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. We thank 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.”
The family is asking for an undetermined amount in damages.
North Olmsted is about a 20-mile drive southwest from Cleveland.
This story was originally published October 16, 2024 at 2:14 PM with the headline "3-year-old killed in random stabbing outside Ohio store without security, lawsuit says."
