News 12 defaultlogo

55 years in prison: Mother of slain daughter in Bridgeport says killer ‘finally got what he deserved’

"Today, we finally got that justice -- and it's been a long time coming," Camille Hemmings told News 12 Sunday.

Frank Recchia

Jun 8, 2025, 10:26 PM

Updated 5 hr ago

Share:

Camille Hemmings has been waiting two years to get justice for her daughter, 23-year-old Brianna McCoy, who was shot to death in Bridgeport on April 6, 2023.
"Today, we finally got that justice -- and it's been a long time coming," Hemmings told News 12 Sunday.
Derrick Francis, 43, was sentenced to 55 years in prison.
"It didn't have to happen, but it did -- and now our lives will never be the same," Hemmings said.
Francis -- who is the father of McCoy's son -- got into an argument with her at her apartment on Vincelette Street and shot her four times with a 9mm semiautomatic handgun while their child -- then 18-months old -- was only a few feet away, police say.
"Baby Zander has not spoken a single word since that day -- and he goes to therapy on a regular basis now to restore his speech," Hemmings said.
Francis triggered a national manhunt when he fled the murder scene. He was later arrested in Ohio.
"He finally got what he deserved -- 55 years. He will hopefully die in prison a lonely and miserable death," Hemmings said.
Previous coverage on the fatal shooting of Brianna McCoy