Toledo man pleads guilty to murder, aggravated robbery for May killing

1/7/2013
BLADE STAFF
Demeko McDaniel pleaded guilty today in Lucas County Common Pleas Court to murder with a gun specification for the May 22 shooting death of Junior Francous.
Demeko McDaniel pleaded guilty today in Lucas County Common Pleas Court to murder with a gun specification for the May 22 shooting death of Junior Francous.

A Toledo man pleaded guilty in Lucas County Common Pleas Court today to murder with a gun specification for the May 22 shooting death of Junior Francous, known as “Pinchy,” as well as aggravated robbery with a gun specification for carjacking a getaway vehicle.

Demeko McDaniel, 21, of 209 Courtland Ave., was arrested two days after the shooting at Mercy Memorial Hospital in Monroe, where he had gone for treatment for a gunshot wound to the leg. He was extradited to Lucas County where he was charged with aggravated murder, aggravated burglary, and two counts each of felonious assault and aggravated robbery.

As part of the plea, McDaniel pleaded guilty to murder and aggravated robbery with an agreement that the other counts would be dismissed. McDaniel also entered an Alford plea to one count of burglary for an unrelated case in which he broke into an unoccupied home and stole a television.

Judge Myron Duhart found McDaniel guilty of the three charges and set a Feb. 12 sentencing date. If the sentences are ordered consecutive, McDaniel faces life in prison the possibility of parole of up to 35 years.

Francous, 39, was found dead inside 1018 Bricker Ave. just before 3 p.m. when Toledo’s SWAT unit entered the home, two hours after a call of shots fired at the home. The victim was shot once in the chest and once in the face at close range.

Within minutes of the shooting, a woman who was reportedly picking up a friend for school in the 1100 block of Homer Avenue, only 0.2 miles from the Bricker address, was carjacked by a man who put a gun to her head and told her to get out of her car, authorities said. The car was later found about two blocks from McDaniel’s home with McDaniel’s blood inside.