The wife of the man accused of opening fire inside the Versailles Gardens Apartments in North Canton says her husband was in a state of psychosis when the shooting occurred Thursday morning.
Police say 38-year-old Brian Keith Francisco II fired multiple rounds through the wall of his apartment, across a corridor, and into a neighboring unit, injuring a woman inside. Officers rescued the victim under heavy gunfire and took Francisco into custody after a lengthy standoff.
Authorities recovered an AR-style rifle, a handgun, and several rounds of ammunition from his apartment. Francisco faces multiple felony charges, including felonious assault and improperly discharging a firearm into a habitation. His bond was set at $1.1 million Friday in Canton Municipal Court.
‘He’s in a state of psychosis’
In an interview with Jordan Miller News, Kristen Francisco, Brian’s estranged wife, said he has bipolar disorder and had not been taking his medication leading up to the incident.
“He’s in a state of psychosis,” she said. “He hasn’t been managing his medication properly.”
Kristen said her husband’s mental health has been unstable for years and that he has experienced several psychotic episodes. The two have been separated for about a year and a half after marrying in 2011.
History of mental health struggles and past accident
Kristen said Brian’s mental health issues have been compounded by a 2018 accident that left him paralyzed. She said the crash occurred during a previous psychotic episode.
“He was driving at high speeds in a residential area,” she said, adding that the incident resulted in his paralysis and ongoing physical challenges.
Kristen said she served as his caregiver for years following the accident but struggled to balance that responsibility while raising their 10-year-old son, who has autism.
FBI contacted wife during standoff
Kristen told Jordan Miller News that the FBI contacted her during the standoff in an effort to de-escalate the situation.
“They called me during the standoff,” she said. “I tried to calm him down.”
She said she was worried about her husband’s well-being, noting that he appeared bruised and without shoes when taken into custody.
Police response praised
North Canton Police Major Matthew Buzzard said officers faced heavy gunfire as they worked to rescue the injured woman.
“By the grace of God, no one else was injured, and our officers remained safe,” Buzzard said. “The bravery and teamwork displayed today reflect the very best of our law enforcement community.”
The woman who was shot was pulled through a bedroom window and taken to a hospital shortly after 9 a.m. Her condition has not been released.
Police say there is no known connection between Francisco and the victim.
Francisco remains in the Stark County Jail on $1.1 million bond.
