On April 6, 2023, a tragedy unfolded inside a Bridgeport, Connecticut, condominium that ended the life of 23-year-old Brianna Destiny McKoy, a Black/African American female. On that Thursday morning, around 11:20 a.m., police were called to the Coachlight Square condominium complex on Vincellette Street. Inside, they discovered McKoy, who had been fatally shot.
The scene was made even more heartbreaking by the presence of her infant son, who was found unharmed nearby.
The investigation into McKoy's death quickly identified her 41-year-old boyfriend, Derrick Francis, as the suspect. The incident was classified as a domestic violence homicide. According to reports, the couple had a history of domestic disputes, and police had been called to the residence for incidents involving them in the past. On the morning of the killing, a neighbor reported hearing a loud argument, during which McKoy was heard pleading, "Stop…Stop…Stop" and "Don't hit me." The neighbor then heard a loud bang. Shortly after, the same neighbor saw Francis leaving the apartment. When the neighbor went to check on McKoy, she was found deceased on her bed.
Following the shooting, Francis fled the state, sparking a manhunt. On April 17, 2023, he was apprehended in the Cleveland suburb of Solon, Ohio. Francis was discovered during a traffic stop; he fled the vehicle on foot but was quickly taken into custody. A loaded firearm was found in the car. He was held in Ohio as a fugitive from justice before being extradited back to Connecticut to face charges for McKoy's murder. His bond was set at $3 million.
Derrick Francis was charged with murder. In court proceedings, McKoy's mother, Camille Prince, emotionally confronted him. A panel of three judges found Francis guilty of murder on April 25, 2025. The defense had argued that he acted under "extreme emotional disturbance," but this claim was rejected by the court. On June 5, 2025, Derrick Francis was sentenced to 55 years in prison for the murder of Brianna Destiny McKoy.
