Key facts
- The family of Dominic Russo is pushing to modernize "Son of Sam" laws.
- The goal is to prevent criminals from achieving fame through their crimes.
The family of Dominic Russo is advocating for changes to "Son of Sam" laws to prevent criminals from gaining fame through their crimes, particularly via social media. This effort comes as a true-crime documentary highlights the case of Mackenzie Shirilla, convicted in the fatal crash that killed Russo and Davion Flanagan.
The family of Dominic Russo is advocating for updates to "Son of Sam" laws, aiming to prevent criminals from profiting from or gaining fame through their crimes. This push is amplified by the recent release of bodycam footage showing Mackenzie Shirilla's father berating police after her arrest for a fatal 2022 crash. Shirilla, who was 17 at the time and is now 21, is serving 15 years to life for intentionally driving her car into a building, killing her boyfriend Russo (20) and their friend Davion Flanagan (19). Evidence indicated the vehicle was traveling 90 mph in a 35 mph zone with the accelerator fully engaged and no brake applied. The case has resurfaced due to a Netflix documentary, "The Crash." Shirilla's father, Steven Shirilla, was heard on bodycam video calling his daughter "a dumb 18-year-old" and insisting police not question her. He will not be returning to his teaching position at Mary Queen of Peace School.
The case and the family's advocacy highlight the ongoing debate about how "Son of Sam" laws should adapt to modern media, particularly social media, to protect victims' families from further trauma and prevent criminals from achieving notoriety.