North Canton Police responded to an active shooter incident Wednesday morning at Versailles Gardens Apartments, leading to the arrest of 38-year-old Brian Keith Francisco II.
According to a timeline released by the department, emergency crews were dispatched at 8:50 a.m. after a female resident reported being injured. Shortly after, officers received additional reports of gunfire. The first officer arrived at 8:55 a.m., entering the victim’s first-floor apartment at 175 Applegrove Street NE.
Officers found the woman in a hallway suffering from multiple gunshot wounds and requested immediate medical aid. Moments later, while a medic and officers were inside the apartment, the suspect began firing through the wall, forcing responders to retreat to safety.
In what officials described as a heroic act, an on-scene sergeant ripped a bedroom window from the wall with his bare hands to create an escape route. Officers and medics then lifted the victim through the window and out of the apartment under gunfire.
At 9:07 a.m., SWAT was activated, and mutual aid was requested from Stark and Summit counties, with assistance from the FBI, ATF, and U.S. Marshals. The victim was transported to the hospital by 9:09 a.m. SWAT breached the suspect’s apartment at 10:46 a.m., and Francisco was taken into custody without incident two minutes later.
Police recovered an AR-style rifle, a handgun, and multiple rounds of ammunition. Investigators said Francisco fired blindly through the wall of his apartment into the victim’s residence and another neighboring unit.
Francisco faces several charges, including one count of felonious assault (F1), two counts of felonious assault (F2), two counts of improperly discharging a firearm at or into a habitation (F2), and one count of inducing panic (F4).
North Canton Assistant Chief of Police Major Matthew Buzzard commended the quick actions of first responders and supporting agencies.
“Today’s events were a sobering reminder of the dangers our officers and first responders face,” Buzzard said. “By the grace of God, no one else was injured, and our officers remained safe.”
Police said no additional injuries were reported, and all nearby schools and businesses were temporarily placed on lockdown during the incident.
The investigation is ongoing, and photos of the suspect can be requested from the Stark County Jail.