The crash that killed Dominic Russo and Davion Flanagan kept drawing attention in part because of the Netflix documentary “The Crash,” and that attention has now reached a Cleveland school where Steve Shirilla teaches art and digital media. Mary Queen of Peace School placed him on administrative leave after what it described as allegations circulating on social media.
Mackenzie Shirilla crashed her vehicle on July 31, 2022, in Strongsville after traveling 100 mph and slamming into a brick wall. In 2023, a Cuyahoga County judge found her guilty of multiple charges, including murder and aggravated vehicular homicide, and sentenced her to life in prison with eligibility for parole after 15 years served.
The school told parents it was investigating allegations made on social media that one of its teachers had demonstrated poor judgment. It said it acted immediately after learning of the allegation and removed the teacher from his duties, adding that the investigation is ongoing.
The timing matters because the documentary was released before the administrative leave was announced, putting the Shirilla name back into public view just as the school was fielding complaints from the community. A parent told 19 News that students “did love and respect” Mr. Shirilla as a teacher and said the leave came after backlash from the community. That parent also said he was hired about 2 1/2 years before the crash.
Mary Queen of Peace said it wants parents and families to know that the safety, wellbeing and trust of students remain among its highest priorities, and that it takes all student concerns seriously. The school also said it is limited in what it can share during an active personnel investigation, but will provide additional communication as appropriate. For now, Steve Shirilla is off the classroom floor while the school weighs allegations that have spread online and a case that has never fully left the public eye.
