PARMA, Ohio (WJW) — On the evening of March 21, 2025, a 32-year-old mother and her two-year-old son were involved in a heart-wrenching hit-and-run incident in a parking lot at the Marc's grocery store located at 7511 W. Ridgewood Drive. While they were both pushing a shopping cart and attempting to cross the parking lot, they were struck by a vehicle that failed to stop and left the scene. The incident occurred shortly after 7 p.m., following a regular shopping trip that turned into a nightmare.
According to Parma police, surveillance footage shows the moments leading up to the incident. Shalonte Maddox, the mother, was seen leaving the store with her son, Genesis Ojikutu, seated in the cart. As they stepped off the sidewalk into the parking lot, a dark-colored sedan—a possible blue or black, with silver trim and tinted windows—struck them. The vehicle then sped away toward Ridge Road, where officers suspect the driver turned south.
Both Maddox and her son were taken to MetroHealth Medical Center shortly after the crash. As of the following Sunday, they remained hospitalized due to the seriousness of their injuries. Reports indicate that Genesis suffered significant trauma from the collision, including a broken arm and deep lacerations to his forehead, exposing part of his skull. Maddox also endured various injuries, describing herself as sore and bruised.
Maddox recounted the harrowing moments of the incident in a recent interview. "Friday was my nephew's birthday, and I was responsible for getting the snacks, so I went to Marc's to get the snacks," she explained. While on the phone with her sister, she noticed the approaching vehicle. "I thought I had more than enough time to walk across the street. I was walking in the lines as well," she recalled. However, before she could react, the vehicle struck her, causing her to twist through the air and fall with her son trapped beneath the cart.
She described the terrifying moment, saying, "I remember looking up and I saw the car at my leg. I thought it was going to brake, but it didn't brake. It just proceeded to go." In the chaos that followed, Genesis was thrown from the cart, rolling from beneath the vehicle. "My baby's forehead was wide open. I was able to see his skull through his head," Maddox said, adding, "I felt myself have an asthma attack." Witnesses quickly came to her aid, with one woman praying over them until medical help arrived.
Authorities have since been combing through security cameras in the area to track down the vehicle involved. Parma police reported that they found several vehicles that matched the description provided but concluded that those vehicles were not connected to the hit-and-run. An active search is ongoing, with police urging anyone who may have seen the incident or the vehicle to come forward.
"You did something wrong. Just have some remorse. That's my biggest thing. He's two years old," Maddox expressed, her voice filled with emotion. According to her, several bystanders saw the incident unfold and even attempted to flag down the driver, who ignored the pleas.
Maddox further expressed her anger and frustration over the driver's actions, stating, "You saw my baby on your windshield for sure. My baby went up in the air on your hood. You saw that. You could have stopped." She is particularly seeking justice for her son, voicing her concern that a past hit-and-run incident involving another child resulted in minimal jail time for the perpetrator.
The investigation remains active, with Parma police encouraging residents to contact them at (440) 887-7340 or [email protected] if they have any information that could assist in locating the driver.
A GoFundMe campaign has been established to help cover the medical expenses of the Maddox family, which has already raised over $1,000 from concerned community members. Maddox expressed her gratitude to those who have reached out, saying, "When you feel like you're in a world that you don't have so many people, and then all these kind strangers come out of nowhere concerned about my child, it fills me with joy."
As the family confronts the long road ahead to recovery, Maddox remains optimistic, emphasizing her belief that her son, Genesis, embodies a fresh start and strength for their family. "I do know that Genesis is the beginning of the Bible. I knew that having him was going to be a new start for me," she said, highlighting the deep bond and hope she feels for their future.
In a community now rallying behind her, Maddox and her son are, amid their pain, buoyed by the support of friends, family, and random strangers, all hoping for a swift recovery and justice to prevail.
