Steve Shirilla placed on leave after Netflix documentary release — Davion Flanagan
Steve Shirilla, the art and digital media teacher at Mary Queen of Peace School in Cleveland and the father of Mackenzie Shirilla, was placed on administrative leave after the release of the Netflix documentary The Crash. The school said it acted after learning of allegations made on social media about one of its teachers.
The leave comes as the Strongsville crash case tied to Davion Flanagan and Dominic Russo has returned to public attention. Mary Queen of Peace School said its investigation is ongoing and that it will provide additional communication as appropriate.
Mary Queen of Peace School email
In an email to parents, the school said, "We are investigating allegations made on social media that one of our teachers has demonstrated poor judgement." It also said, "Upon learning of the allegation the school acted immediately and placed the teacher on administrative leave."
The email added, "The investigation is ongoing." It also told families, "We want every parent and family to know that the safety, wellbeing, and trust of our students remain among our highest priorities."
Strongsville crash case
Mackenzie Shirilla crashed her vehicle on July 31, 2022, in Strongsville, Ohio, while traveling 100 mph and slammed into a brick wall. Dominic Russo and Davion Flanagan were killed in the crash.
In 2023, a Cuyahoga County judge found her guilty of multiple charges, including murder and aggravated vehicular homicide. She was sentenced to life in prison with eligibility for parole after 15 years served.
Davion Flanagan case attention
The Netflix documentary put the case back into the spotlight after the wreck. A parent told 19 News that students did love and respect Mr. Shirilla as a teacher, a view that sits beside the school’s decision to remove him from day-to-day duties while its review continues.
For parents at Mary Queen of Peace School, the immediate practical change is that Shirilla is not teaching while the school reviews the social-media allegation and decides what comes next.
