Speeding “Hell on Wheels” killer Mackenzie Shirilla’s father was suspended from his teaching job after adamantly defending his daughter in a new Netflix documentary, according to reports.
Steve Shirilla was removed from his position as an art and digital media teacher at Mary Queen of Peace School on Monday amidst allegations of “poor judgement,” Cleveland 19 News reported, citing an email sent to parents.
“We are investigating allegations made on social media that one of our teachers has demonstrated poor judgement,” the school, which serves grades Pre-K through 8, wrote in the email blast.
“Upon learning of the allegation the school acted immediately and placed the teacher on administrative leave. The investigation is ongoing,” officials wrote.
Though the school did not name him in the email, Steve confirmed to the outlet that he’d been the subject of the email.
The elder Shirilla maintained his convicted murderer daughter’s innocence in a new Netflix documentary, “The Crash,” that has climbed to No. 1 on the streaming platform’s most popular movie list since it was released on Friday.
Several of Steve’s comments in the blockbuster – which documents the case of Mackenzie intentionally crashing her car and killing her boyfriend, Dominic Russo, and friend Davion Flanagan in July 2022 – have sparked fierce debate and backlash online.
“I knew she was smoking dope – I don’t have a problem with her smoking dope,” Steve said at one point, while addressing Mackenzie’s frequent marijuana consumption throughout her teens.
“If you’re going to smoke a drug, that’s the one I believe you should take…you know, she’s not shooting up.”
Steve and his wife Natalie also denied that their daughter bullied her peers, despite school records showing she was disciplined for bullying – and shockingly chalked Mackenzie and Russo’s four-year-long relationship up to Russo’s income.
“The boy wasn’t hurting for money, OK? And I think that helped Mackenzie a little bit because Mackenzie likes things, you know?” said Steve, who was clad in a t-shirt with “BOOM” written across the front during the interview.
The dad also admitted feeling guilt over “being happy for my daughter and knowing that Dom and Damion passed away.”
It’s not the first time Mackenzie’s parents have landed themselves in hot water over tone-deaf comments regarding the case.
During Mackenzie’s sentencing hearing in 2023 – after the judge found her guilty of four murder, felonious assault and aggravated vehicular homicide during a dramatic bench trial — Natalie drew ire while pleading for leniency from the judge.
“I’m asking for leniency because this is a tragic accident she doesn’t remember. Davion … he’s a new friend,” Natalie said before the judge cut her off.
“What does that mean? His life was worthless?” the judge demanded, prompting Natalie to apologize to the mourning families.
The judge ordered Mackenzie remain behind bars for two concurrent sentences of 15 years to life. She is now appealing her conviction for a second time.
Steve told Cleveland 19 News Monday that he was upset with how the new Netflix documentary was edited, as not all of his comments made the final cut, and insisted again that his daughter is innocent.
He didn’t know anything more about his administrative leave other than the school was conducting an investigation.
One parent told the outlet that students generally liked and respected Steve, but conceded that his handling of the documentary “wasn’t tasteful” – and expressed concern for the school community.
Additionally, “some of the light that Mr. Shirilla has been in due to this case and the documentary draws a negative light to our school and is drawing a scary amount of attention to our kids,” the unidentified parent said.
“No amount of background checks on Mr. Shirilla will show something that his daughter will do two years after he is hired,” the parent continued. “As a parent of a student who attends there, it is not fair for our school, staff, children or families to receive hate and threats because of third hand actions.”
While the school was limited in what it could share during an active personnel investigation, officials promised parents they “will provide additional communication” in the future, according to the email.
A representative for Mary Queen of Peace School reiterated the facts enclosed in the email and told The Post the health and wellbeing of its students “are among the highest priorities” in a statement. School “leadership takes all allegations of poor judgement very seriously,” they added.
Steve did not respond to requests for comment.