NORTHAMPTON — A 67-year-old Florence man was convicted Friday of armed assault with intent to murder after he shot his wife and refused to leave his home two years ago.
Following a three-day bench trial this week in Hampshire Superior Court, Judge Tracy Duncan found Michael Janik guilty of armed assault with intent to murder, assault and battery by discharging a firearm, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and two counts of assault and battery on a household member. He was also found guilty of improper storage of a firearm and malicious destruction of property.
On Nov. 10, 2024, Janik’s separated wife was attempting to retrieve belongings from the house when he shot her in the upper abdomen, causing a life-threatening injury. His wife fled the house and called 911.
She survived after receiving first aid from Northampton police and firefighters and treatment at Baystate Medical Center, said Melissa Sippel, a spokesperson for the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office.
According to court documents, the victim went across the street to a neighboring residence after calling 911 and said Janik might take his own life. Northampton Police’s statement of facts states the woman appeared to have labored breathing over the phone.
When they arrived at the scene, police spoke with Janik through an open window. They reported it took around 45 minutes for him to leave the home after he repeatedly refused requests to do so. During that time, he yelled that he wished officers would shoot and kill him, police said.
After being placed in custody, Janik told police the shooting had been an accident, adding that he had wanted “her to pull the trigger.” He said he was arguing with his then-wife when she pulled away and the gun went off accidentally. Police said he also told them he had consumed a large amount of tramadol, a painkiller.
Further investigation by Massachusetts State Police found that Janik had texted a friend following the incident, saying that he needed help, was going to kill himself and that the victim was shot.
Another State Police officer spoke with friends of the shooting victim who said they received text messages from her in October 2024 in which she said Janik destroyed her phone with a hammer after he saw her talking to a male acquaintance.
Janik and his then-wife initially gave police different accounts of the shooting — the victim told police that she tried to retreat toward the kitchen when her husband started to point the gun at her, and that she was 3 to 4 feet away from him when he shot her. Janik said she had grabbed the pistol and that it went off during the ensuing struggle, according to police.
“We commend the victim for her strength and bravery in the immediate aftermath of being shot and throughout a lengthy court process. Her courage is truly commendable,” Deputy District Attorney Jennifer Suhl, the case’s prosecutor, said in a statement.
Janik was represented by attorney Randall Power of Woburn, who could not immediately be reached for comment Friday afternoon.
Duncan scheduled sentencing for Nov. 23. In Massachusetts, armed assault with intent to murder is punishable by up to 20 years in state prison.
