Share
News

Man Who Killed Teen and Told 911 the Youth Was a 'Republican Extremist' Pleads Guilty After Murder Charge Is Dropped

Share

A North Dakota man accused of mowing down an 18-year-old with his car because he thought the young man was a “Republican extremist” has pleaded guilty to manslaughter after initially being charged with murder.

Instead of the prospect of life in prison, Shannon Brandt, 42, now faces a maximum sentence of 10 years behind bars in connection with the death of Cayler Ellingson, KVRR-TV reported.

Brandt’s attorney, Mark Friese, told the news station earlier this month that the local prosecutor had dropped the murder charge on her own and that “it was not a part of any plea deal.”

The station added that a charge of leaving the scene of an accident had been dismissed. Brandt will be sentenced at a later date.

The deadly confrontation began around 2 a.m. on Sept. 18 after a dance in the town of McHenry, according to KVLY-TV.

Trending:
KJP Panics, Hangs Up in Middle of Interview When Reporter Shows He Isn't a Democratic Party Propagandist

“Just before the crash, Ellingson called his mom and asked if they knew who Brandt was,” the station reported, citing court documents. “She said yes, and told her son she was on her way to pick him up.”

A short time later, according to the report, “Ellingson called his mom again to say that ‘he’ or ‘they’ were chasing him.”

After Brandt intentionally struck Ellingson with his SUV, the young man was pronounced dead at a Carrington hospital.

Was the prosecutor right to downgrade the murder charge?

Police went from the scene of the incident to Brandt’s home in nearby Glenfield.

“Brandt admitted to consuming alcohol before the incident, and stated he hit Ellingson with his car because he had a political argument with him,” KVLY reported.

“Brandt also admitted to deputies that he initially left the crash scene, then returned to call 911, but left again before deputies could arrive.”

Brandt stated in his 911 call that Ellingson was part of a “Republican extremist group” that he feared was “coming to get him.”

A later Fox News report quoted North Dakota Highway Patrol Capt. Bryan Niewind as saying there was “no evidence” that Ellingson was a “Republican extremist.”

Ellingson had graduated from Carrington High School a few months before his death, in May 2022.

Related:
Man Charged in Connection with NYPD Officer's Death Gets an Earful from New Yorkers During Perp Walk

He recently had begun studying to be an ultrasound technician.

Truth and Accuracy

Submit a Correction →



We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.

Tags:
, , , , ,
Share
Lorri Wickenhauser has worked at news organizations in California and Arizona. She joined The Western Journal in 2021.
Lorri Wickenhauser has worked at news organizations in California and Arizona. She joined The Western Journal in 2021.




Conversation