A Tragic Reminder of Hybrid Threats

In June 2024, in North Olmsted, Ohio, Bionca Ellis, 34, stole knives from a thrift store and followed 3-year-old Julian Wood and his mother, Margot, out of a Giant Eagle grocery store. In a random attack lasting seconds, Ellis stabbed both in the parking lot; Julian tragically died from his injuries, while Margot survived a shoulder wound. A jury found Ellis guilty of aggravated murder and related charges this week, with sentencing set for October 27, potentially life without parole. The Wood family expressed gratitude for community support, stating, “This was for him today.”

This horrific, unprovoked incident underscores the hybrid threat environment we face today: emboldened criminals, untreated mentally ill individuals, morally corrupted actors, and ideological extremists who may strike without warning, using any tool—or none at all. As responsible citizens, we must prepare to match potential brutality, but always proportionally and legally. This isn’t about blame—attacks like this are devastating and unpredictable—but about learning to reduce risks.

“And I have to ask, what makes you think you could not encounter something like this on your daily shopping trip? And if you accept that it can happen to anyone, including you, how have you prepared for it?”

* Emboldened Criminals: Repeat offenders who target vulnerable victims without fear, often escalating quickly.

* Untreated Mentally Ill: Individuals acting unpredictably and violently due to unchecked health issues.

* Morally Corrupted Individuals: Those justifying antisocial behavior through extreme acts for validation.

* Ideological Extremists: Motivated groups or individuals using violence to impose beliefs.

Key Awareness Issues

The video highlights how threats often go unnoticed in everyday settings. In this case, Ellis walked through a busy store with a large knife visible, yet no one intervened. Predator behaviors, like turning to follow or multitasking to surveil a target, vectoring to close distance, were missed. I talk about all of these things in my courses. Sharpening your “survival sense”—scanning for anomalies and establishing baselines—can help spot these early. From my training, after mindset, awareness is the second most critical foundation; without it, even advanced skills are useless.

* Lost Survival Sense: People in public spaces often fail to notice obvious threats, like someone carrying a weapon openly. They have never even considered the possibility of a deadly threat in their day to day lives.

* Predator Behaviors: Watch for 180-degree turns, pacing, or feigned multitasking and vectoring to approach targets.

* Baseline Development: Regularly scan your environment to detect anomalies before they escalate.

Avoiding Victim Pitfalls

Many survivors describe a too-familiar sequence: not seeing it coming, disbelief that it’s happening, uncertainty about what to do, and freezing from internal fear. Margot Wood testified to feeling it came “out of nowhere” and being overwhelmed by speed and shock. This aligns with common victim mindsets, where inaction stems from never anticipating such events. Shifting to a “victor” mindset—believing threats can occur, spotting them early, knowing decisive actions, and focusing externally on solutions—can make a difference.

* Victim Mindset: Didn’t believe it was happening; didn’t see it coming; didn’t know what to do; internally focused on fear; stuck in compliance or frozen.

* Victor Mindset: Believe it’s happening immediately; see threats early; know what to do and act decisively; externally focused on problem-solving; respond with intent, toughness, and teamwork.

* Problem People Mindset: Compromised by ego, revenge, or delusion; underestimate threats, overestimate abilities; think they know what to do but are mistaken; ultimately make situations worse.

Briefly, this ties into the OODA Loop (Observe, Orient, Decide, Act): a cycle to process situations faster than an adversary, restarting with each action for an edge.

* Observe: Detect stimuli or threats in your environment through active scanning.

* Orient: Make sense of observations based on knowledge and beliefs to build a mental map.

* Decide: Commit to a course of action based on available information and time.

* Act: Execute the decision, generating new data to restart the loop.

Speed and accuracy in this cycle provide a decisive advantage over opponents.

The Dimmer and On/Off Switch

In hybrid threats, your response needs flexibility. The “dimmer switch” allows measured aggression—escalating or de-escalating to match the threat, avoiding legal issues. But for life-threatening moments, flip the “on/off switch” to full commitment: hands, improvised items (pens, keys), purpose-built tools (pepper spray, knives), or firearms where legal. Layer your capabilities: start with empty-hand skills, build to proficiency in all levels. Don’t leave loved ones unprepared—equip them with tools and training for a serious response if needed. My wife took my youngest daughter on an outing today, and just before she left, I made sure she had some significant capability with her. She was already prepared, and it didn't take anything away from her ability to be a mother and enjoy her time with her child.

* Dimmer Switch: Calibrate aggression to measure and control violence proportionately to the threat.

* On/Off Switch: Instantly commit to overwhelming, decisive force in extreme, life-threatening scenarios.

* Layered Capability:

* Empty-Hand Skills: Master self-defense, martial arts, and close-quarters combat for de-escalation and control.

* Improvised Weapons: Use everyday objects like pens, keys, or umbrellas when built tools are unavailable.

* Purpose-Built Tools: Train with knives, batons, or alarms, understanding deployment and legal implications.

* Firearms Proficiency: Safe, responsible use with rigorous training, legal knowledge, and judgment for life-threatening situations.

Note: These are only effective with situational awareness and threat recognition. You can find more on my 1-2 second and 3-5 second rule here: The 3-5 Second Rule

Final Thoughts: 1% Efforts for 100% More Safety

This was a nightmare no one should face, and our hearts go out to the Wood family. By applying these lessons—tuning awareness, adopting a proactive mindset, and building layered defenses—we honor such tragedies by becoming harder targets. It’s about enjoying life while keeping protection on standby. Watch the full video below for deeper insights, including real footage analysis and practical tips.

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Your Threat-Proof Coach– Trevor

Grey Group LLC | High Threat Systems LLC

Green Beret | SWAT Cop | Counter-Terrorism Contractor | Instructor

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