Boxers have platforms that they often use to promote themselves, but that’s not the case for Sulem Urbina, who advocated for the death penalty after a horrific stabbing incident in Ohio on Monday that left a 3-year-old child dead. The 33-year-old Mexican-American female boxer might not have entered the ring lately, but she is up in arms about the tragedy in Ohio. 

According to police reports, the incident transpired outside a Giant Eagle in the city of North Olmsted, a suburb in Cleveland. A woman named Bionca Ellis, 32, from the city attacked and stabbed the toddler and his mother, Margot Wood, in what appears to be an unforeseen act of violence. The very next day, the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office successfully identified the boy as Julian Wood of North Olmsted.

Seeing this trending on X, the former WBA flyweight contender hopped on the platform to express her disgust with the situation while asking for the harshest punishment in the books. Urbina wrote, “Despicable. Death penalty now”. It’s worth mentioning that capital punishment is legal in the U.S. state of Ohio, but Governor Mike DeWine has suspended all executions indefinitely. This decision came about until the Ohio General Assembly choses a replacement for lethal injection.

Regardless, according to a report from the North Olmsted Police Department, multiple 911 calls flooded in after 3 p.m. from the parking lot of the grocery chain as officers hurried to respond to the calls. After arriving at the scene of the crime, the cops located the toddler and his 38-year-old mother, giving immediate first-aid to both parties. 

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Having taken the suspect into custody at the scene of the crime, officers started taking witness accounts of the incident. On Tuesday, the North Olmsted police spokesperson Matt Beck told USA TODAY that Ellis is being charged with aggravated murder and other charges will be determined by a grand jury! Meanwhile, Giant Eagle also seems to have released a statement regarding the unfortunate ordeal. 

Urbina’s Support amid turmoil

Following the incident, the supermarket chain on Tuesday shared their official statement about the unfortunate incident and the 3-year-old’s death. “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”, Giant Eagle’s statement read. 

They further added, “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”. Ellis is currently detained at the North Olmsted City Jail without bond, awaiting arraignment in the Rocky River Municipal Court, where the legal proceedings for her case will commence.

Urbina’s tweet asking for capital punishment amid the stabbing incident shows the magnitude of anger people seem to have garnered. However, Ellis’ fate is yet to be seen as further information trickles in. Do you agree with Sulem Urbina? Does Ellis deserve the chair?