GoFundMe for son of Trooper’s daughter; murder suspect in custody
Published:Tuesday | April 18, 2023 | 1:09 AMYasmine Peru/Senior Gleaner Writer
“Derrick Francis is in custody! Stay tuned for details,” was how the Bridgeport Police Department in Connecticut, USA, announced the apprehension of the 41-year-old man whose image has been in circulation on a wanted poster since the fatal shooting of Brianna McKoy, the daughter of prominent veteran selector Ricky Trooper.
Within minutes of the police department’s social media post of the wanted flier with the word ‘In Custody’ written boldly across it, Trooper reposted it. His followers hailed the news with glee, but Garfield ‘Ricky Trooper’ McKoy had no words.
The police reported that 23-year-old Brianna was found fatally shot in a Coachlight Square condominium complex on Vincellette Street around 11:20 a.m. on Thursday, April 6. Her 16-month-old son was at the scene, unhurt, police said. Residents reported hearing shots followed by the sound of a car speeding away.
The authorities named Francis as a person of interest and said he should be considered armed and dangerous.
Bridgeport police captain Kevin Gilleran is quoted by news outlets in Connecticut as saying that Brianna had been shot multiple times and that she was dating Francis at the time of her death. Gilleran said police had previously responded to incidents involving the couple and noted that McKoy’s death was a “domestic violence homicide”.
Her family members, both in Jamaica and the United States, have held vigils for the young mother.
A report on ctinsider.com stated that her mother, Camille Prince, and other relatives were among loved ones present at a vigil last Wednesday night in front of the In The City tapas bar and lounge, where McKoy, also known as Bri Balenciaga, had recently started working.
Kind and loving,
“At least 40 people lit candles Wednesday night on Fairfield Avenue in front of a screen, which displayed photos of McKoy within a heart. Brittany Harris said although her cousin worked as a bottle server, she had a reserved personality,” ctinsider.com reported
Harris was quoted saying: “[Brianna] is very genuine, she’s kind, she’s loving, her laugh, every single time, it keeps playing back in my head ... it doesn’t seem real.”
“McKoy’s mother, Camille Prince, cried as the crowd shouted, ‘I love you Bri’, and released dozens of pink and blue balloons into the night sky,” the report said.
A fundraiser was held for the family by the organisers after the event and a GoFundMe has also been created to support Zander, McKoy’s son. The page, which was started by Danela Simon, has so far raised US$990 of the $30,000 goal.
It states: “Camille Prince’s daughter lost her life due to domestic violence and has left behind her beautiful 16-month-old son for her to care for. We are creating this GoFundMe on behalf of Baby Zander. Any support can help. No donations are too small.”
Ricky Trooper hosted a candlelight vigil for Brianna last Friday, and he went all out. A life-sized cut-out of Brianna adorned an entry way, and the selector posed for pictures beside it. There is a photo of him and his youngest daughter, along wiht the caption, “Maliyah a you enjoy yourself Friday night me daughter, and you not even know say a mourn we a mourn for your sister.”
Another photo showed Trooper and an older daughter. “One daughter beside me inna flesh and one beside me inna spirit but a hold it still,” he captioned the photo.
He has been posting a montage of pictures of Brianna at various ages on his Instagram page while declaring his love and his shock at her passing.