A Minneapolis man has entered a guilty plea for the bombing of a Minneapolis hair salon, according to an announcement from United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger. Michael Allen Francisco, 59, admitted to using explosives in a malicious attack on the salon, which took place in the early hours of November 20, 2022.
The initial bombing, which occurred at 2:49 AM, was captured by the salon's surveillance equipment, showing Francisco placing an explosive device against the salon window, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Minnesota. After the detonation, which left the salon significantly damaged both inside and out, Francisco was seen fleeing in a vehicle. Just under a year later, on November 6, 2023, the same man was caught on video throwing a rock through the salon's window, which subsequently broke.
Through DNA and other evidence collected at the site of the vandalism, investigators linked Francisco to both the 2022 bombing and the 2023 incident. A search warrant executed on March 28, 2024, at Francisco's residence led to the discovery of clothing worn during the second attack, various explosive-making materials, a .32 caliber revolver with ammunition, and methamphetamine, as outlined in a statement released by the Department of Justice.
In the course of the proceedings in front of U.S. District Judge Ann D. Montgomery, Francisco entered a guilty plea to one count of malicious use of explosive materials. His plea concedes to the charge of using fire and explosives to destructively target a property involved in interstate commerce. This case was brought forward as the result of collaborative efforts among the FBI, the Minneapolis Police Department, and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
