Alleged Francis Assailant Claims Innocence: DeAnthony Ford, arrested and charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of USC starting point guard Ryan Francis has claimed his innocence. Ford, 19, is being held without bond in Baton Rougue in the May 13 shooting of Francis at an intersection. Francis was a passenger in the back seat of a vehicle that was fired upon by an SUV driver, possibly in retaliation from an earlier dispute. After being provided with a description of the vehicle, Baton Rouge police stopped Ford and found a large-caliber weapon inside his vehicle. Two of the three survivors in the vehicle have allegedly identified Ford as the shooter from a lineup. [6/09/06]