MIAMI, FL — A 67-year-old security guard was arrested after allegedly attempting to kill his wife in multiple ways during a violent assault, including trying to smother her with a pillow and pointing a gun at her head while threatening “today, you are going to die,” according to Miami-Dade County police records.
Fael Francois faces charges of attempted murder with a firearm, aggravated assault with a firearm, aggravated battery, domestic violence battery, and resisting arrest without violence following the Friday evening incident at their home in the 1100 block of Northwest 114th Street in Miami. The Haitian-born security guard remained in the Miami-Dade County Jail without bond on Monday afternoon, with a judge specifically denying bail on the attempted murder charge. The case highlights the escalating nature of domestic violence incidents and the critical role of emergency response systems in protecting victims.
The attack began around 11 p.m. Friday when the victim was sleeping and her husband grabbed a pillow to smother her, making it difficult for her to breathe, according to the probable cause arrest affidavit reviewed by multiple news outlets. When she managed to get up from the bed, Francois allegedly grabbed her by the arms, shook her violently, and slapped her several times in the face. The woman broke free again and called her sister to alert her of the dangerous situation unfolding in their home. “The victim was able to leave the house and hide behind a shed in their backyard, where she called 911 for help,” Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office deputies wrote in their arrest report.
Court documents reveal the most chilling moment occurred when Francois retrieved his firearm and pointed it directly at his wife’s head. “Today, you are going to die,” he allegedly told her before pulling the trigger, according to police reports. However, the gun failed to discharge because Francois had forgotten to insert the magazine into the weapon, and no round was chambered. “Oh s—, it’s not working,” the defendant said when the gun failed to fire, according to investigators. The malfunction likely saved the woman’s life, as Francois had clearly intended to execute her. After the failed shooting attempt, he allegedly struck his wife with an unknown object, causing a laceration on her left arm before she managed to flee the residence.
Local emergency response logs show deputies responded to the domestic violence call and located Francois at the couple’s Miami home. Officers arrested him at 1 a.m. Saturday at the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office Northside District Station, with booking completed at 2:25 a.m. at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center. The incident represents a stark escalation in what appears to have been an abusive relationship, though police have not released details about any prior domestic violence calls to the residence. Miami-Dade County has seen a troubling increase in domestic violence cases over the past year, with several high-profile incidents resulting in serious injuries or death. The county’s domestic violence unit typically handles hundreds of such cases annually, ranging from verbal threats to attempted murder.
Francois denied all allegations against him during his interview with investigators, despite the physical evidence and his wife’s detailed account of the assault. The 67-year-old suspect has no future court date currently listed in Miami-Dade County court records, though prosecutors are expected to seek formal indictments through the grand jury process. Florida law allows for enhanced penalties in domestic violence cases involving firearms, and the attempted murder charge alone carries a potential sentence of life in prison. The resisting arrest charge suggests Francois may have been uncooperative during his initial detention, though specific details of that interaction have not been released by authorities.
The case underscores the deadly potential of domestic violence situations and the importance of emergency intervention systems. Domestic violence advocates note that access to firearms significantly increases the lethality risk in abusive relationships, with guns present in domestic violence situations five times more likely to result in the victim’s death. The victim’s quick thinking in contacting her sister and then calling 911 while hiding behind the shed potentially saved her life. “These cases often escalate quickly and without warning,” said one Miami-Dade domestic violence counselor who was not authorized to speak about the specific case.
Francois remains held without bond at the Miami-Dade County jail system, where he is likely to stay pending resolution of the attempted murder charge. The victim’s current condition and whereabouts have not been disclosed by authorities, though she is presumably receiving support services through the county’s victim assistance programs. No future court proceedings have been scheduled, but prosecutors typically move quickly on domestic violence cases involving weapons and attempted murder charges.
