CANTON, Ohio — Brian Francisco II, the suspect accused in an active shooter incident at Versailles Gardens Apartments, has entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity.
According to Stark County Common Pleas Court records, his attorney filed the plea on May 11. The defense is also requesting a third independent psychological evaluation of Francisco.
The filing states that defense counsel believes the two previous evaluations “misinterpreted the Ohio standard.”
According to Stark County court records, Francisco faces several charges.
Previously, in October 2025, a Stark County grand jury indicted Francisco on the following charges:
- 3 counts: Felonious assault, with a 3-year firearm specification (F1)
- 5 counts: Felonious assault, with a 3-year firearm specification (F2)
- 4 counts: Improperly discharging a firearm at or into a habitation or school safety zone, with a 3-year firearm specification (F2)
- 1 count: Inducing panic (F4)
- 2 counts: Criminal damaging or endangering (M1)
Case Details
According to the North Canton Police Department, the incident started around 8:50 a.m. on Oct. 9 when a woman called 911 to report she had been injured. Officers arrived within minutes and found the victim in a hallway suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
North Canton Police Department Major Matthew Buzzard said the victim was hit by bullets fired through the wall of a neighboring apartment, across an outdoor corridor, and into her residence.
Police said investigators found no known connection between Francisco and the victim, and they have not identified a motive.
During the rescue effort, officers came under heavy gunfire. Police said crews pulled the victim through a bedroom window while the suspect fired eight to nine rounds.
“Medics entered the warm zone. A warm zone is basically when shots aren’t being fired,” Buzzard said during a press conference. “It quickly turned to a hot zone as bullets started coming through the wall at the officers and the medics. They took cover. Officers pushed to the back of the apartment where one of the sergeants, a former SWAT officer, ripped the window out with his bare hands, jumped out the window, and they pulled her out and evacuated out the back window of the apartment.”
“Somehow, by the grace of God, no other injuries have been reported. None of the officers on scene were injured. Nobody in surrounding apartments were injured. I have no idea how, but as far as coming to a close, that’s about as best as we could ask for,” Buzzard added.
Buzzard also said law enforcement officers did not return fire.
“Given the sheer amount of rounds that went off and as I’m standing here on command post listening to the radio traffic, I can hear bullets whizzing by my sergeant’s radio. And, you know, you try to keep it together at that point, but you automatically think about your guys and they’re in the thick of it, feeling helpless out here. But knowing I still have a job of coordination out here.”
Police recovered an AR-style rifle, a handgun, and multiple rounds of ammunition from Francisco’s apartment.
“It’s an incredibly difficult and dangerous situation. First off, the officers, our three officers from North Canton that went in, just amazing crews. You know bullets are flown and you know bullets are flying, and they’re in there doing their job. That’s what these guys are paid to do, that’s what the community expects, and that’s what they did today,” Buzzard said.
Police said SWAT teams and multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation and United States Marshals Service, responded to assist.
Leave a Reply