HAGERSTOWN, MD — A man has been sentenced to a hundred years for murder and attempted first degree murder stemming from a 2023 Hagerstown shooting.
Sarah M. Mollett-Gaumer, Deputy State’s Attorney for Washington County, Maryland tells The Panhandle News Network the sentencing came December 11th in Washington County Circuit Court.
“On December 11, 2025, following a four day jury trial in the Circuit Court for Washington County, Maryland,
Brian Christopher Francis, was convicted of Second Degree Murder of Elijah Raymond Rapheal, Attempted First
Degree Murder of Madalina Paula Ciobanita, Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Crime of Violence,
Carrying a Loaded Handgun on his Person, and lesser included charges.”
Brian Christopher Francis (HPD)
The defendant was sentenced by Judge Joseph S. Michael to a total sentence of 100 years incarceration in the Maryland Division of Corrections, with
credit for the 727 days served prior to trial, on December 12, 2025.
The conviction stemmed from a shooting on July 30, 2023, in Ms. Ciobanita’s apartment on Brinker Drive in Hagerstown, Maryland.
When officers from the Hagerstown Police Department and Washington County Sheriff’s Office arrived on scene, they located Mr. Rapheal unconscious on the sidewalk, suffering from a single gunshot
wound to his torso. He was transported to Meritus Medical Center but tragically succumbed to his injuries a short time later. Officers also located Ms. Ciobanita prone near the front door of her apartment, with multiple gunshot wounds.
“Miraculously, she survived,” writes Mollett-Gaumer.
The investigation pulled together cellular evidence, surveillance video, and witness statements.
“Ms. Ciobanita was visited by the defendant, Brian Francis, and the murder victim Elijah Rapheal,” Mollett-Gaumer says. “”While in the apartment, the defendant suddenly produced a handgun from his chartreuse ensemble and opened fire on the two other unarmed occupants. The defendant was quickly identified; however, he fled the area and was not served with the arrest warrant until December 27, 2023.”
The case was prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorneys Christopher McCormack and Dakota Parrish. The lead investigator was Detective Dustin Vogel, Hagerstown Police Department, with assistance from the Washington
County Sheriff’s Office and the Washington County Narcotics Task Force. State’s Attorney Regina “Gina” Cirincion commented, “We would like to thank law enforcement for their excellent work, members of this
community who cooperated and testified, and the jury for their careful consideration of the case.
