‘Murderer! Demon!’ Emotions run high at arraignment for young mom’s accused killer
Derrick Francis is accused of killing McKoy in her home on Vincellette Street on April 6 in front of their 16-month-old son. Right away, Bridgeport police named Francis as their suspect.
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Emotions ran high in a Bridgeport courtroom Monday as a local man went before a judge, now charged with the murder of his son’s mother. Derrick Francis, 41, mostly kept his head down as he was arraigned in the death of Brianna McKoy, 23.
“Murderer! Demon!” yelled McKoy’s mother, Camille Prince, at the end of the hearing.
Francis is accused of killing McKoy in her home on Vincellette Street on April 6 in front of their 16-month-old son. Right away, Bridgeport police named Francis as their suspect. They later said he also goes by the name Ainsley Forbes.
“This defendant—it's alleged that he actually fled to Ohio following this grave incident involving the mother of his child who he's alleged to have shot in the head,” said Deputy Assistant State’s Attorney Candace Solis in court.
A manhunt for Francis ended on April 17 in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. Police said Francis initially fought extradition, then later waived a hearing, which allowed the U.S. Marshals Violent Fugitive Task Force to bring him back to Connecticut last week.
In court, the judge set bond at $3 million, which the prosecution had requested.
“It's a strong case for the state. There is a neighbor who saw the defendant fleeing from the apartment, and there was an infant child that was left in the apartment,” Solis told the judge.
According to Francis' arrest warrant, that neighbor heard the estranged couple loudly arguing. "Witness #1 stated she heard McKoy yelling, 'Stop. Stop. Stop' and 'Don't hit me.' Witness #1 then heard a loud bang," the warrant said.
The warrant also said that neighbor went to help McKoy and ran into Francis, whom she called "Junior,” leaving. "Witness #1 then told Junior, 'You gotta stop beating on her.' Witness #1 stated that Junior responded, 'Yea. I know. I'm sorry ma'am,' and fled the apartment complex thereafter," according to the warrant.
Police said they previously responded to the home several times, with the most recent on Feb. 23 for a domestic incident between McKoy and Francis. Her family told police the two had a "very volatile relationship" and that McKoy had broken up with Francis in the last several weeks, according to the warrant.
McKoy's mother previously spoke with News 12 and said while cleaning out her daughter's home, she found a to-do list that included getting a gun permit. “Now I realize that that's what it was for. For protection. I guess she feared for her life, but I didn't know,” Prince told News 12 on May 5.
Francis has been ordered to have no contact with McKoy's family and is due back in court July 25.
