A Minneapolis man stands accused of bombing a local hair salon after he was identified placing an explosive device at the scene as caught on the salon's Ring video camera, the U.S. Attorney Office reported. Michael Allen Francisco, 59, has been charged with the deliberate wreckage of the establishment using an explosive, following the event which occurred on November 20, 2022.
Caught in the act on camera, Francisco was seen fleeing in a vehicle moments before the bomb exploded, causing extensive damage to both the exterior and interior of the salon. Almost a year later, the same salon was once again the target of his vandalism when he shattered its window with a landscaping rock. The incident, which was also captured by video footage on November 6, 2023, allowed law enforcement to draw a direct line to Francisco through DNA and additional evidence.
The weight of evidence led authorities to Francisco's doorstep where they carried out a search warrant on March 28, 2024. According to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office, officials uncovered not only the clothing worn during the November 2023 vandalism but also multiple explosive components including suspected energetic powders and fuses. Additionally, a .32 caliber revolver and methamphetamine were found at the residence - possessions he was prohibited from having due to a previous felony conviction.
The indictment has charged Francisco with one count of maliciously damaging a building that engages in interstate commerce through the use of an explosive. He made his initial appearance in the U.S. District Court before Magistrate Judge David T. Schultz, where he was ordered to be held in custody until a formal detention hearing, scheduled for April 8, 2024. As per legal standards, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, a reminder furnished by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bradley M. Endicott who is prosecuting the case.
The thorough investigation leading to Francisco's charge was a coordinated effort between the FBI, the Minneapolis Police Department, and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. The repercussions of such an act are not to be understated, as the community grapples with the terror and disruption spawned from a single individual's destructive decisions.
