A man who ran over a North Dakota teen for being a Republican has been arrested and charged with murder.
18-year-old Cayler Ellingson died after being run over by Shannon Brandt.
Brandt intentionally hit the teen with his SUV after falsely accusing him of being part of a “Republican extremist group.”
Fox News reporter Adam Sabes broke the news:
“Shannon Brandt has been charged with murder in the death of 18-year-old Cayler Ellingson, and new court documents say that the teenager was ‘ran over’ by an SUV.
“He is now back in jail and will face a judge today for a bond hearing.”
The case sparked national interest when court documents revealed Brandt initially fled the scene.
He called 911 and told the operator that Ellingson was part of a “Republican extremist group.”
He also alleged that the teenager was calling on others to come “get him” for being a Democrat.
He was released from jail on September 20 after posting a $50,000 bond.
North Dakota Highway Patrol Capt. Bryan Niewind, there was “no evidence” that the teenager was part of a “Republican extremist group” or that the tragedy involved politics.
President Donald Trump said earlier about the tragedy:
“Not one mainstream media network has even mentioned this horrible crime.”
NEW: Shannon Brandt has been charged with murder in the death of 18 y/o Cayler Ellingson, and new court documents say that the teenager was “ran over” by an SUV. He is now back in jail and will face a judge today for a bond hearing. https://t.co/rrM1koyJLH
— Adam Sabes (@asabes10) September 30, 2022
UPDATE: Shannon Brandt has now been charged with MURDER in the slaying of 18-year-old Cayler Ellingson.
If convicted, Brandt, who was first charged with criminal vehicular homicide, faces up to life in prison. pic.twitter.com/xh46QxwxGs
— Mia Cathell (@MiaCathell) September 30, 2022
According to Fox News:
A probable cause affidavit for the new charges states that Brandt asked the 911 operator if he was going to prison.
“I just wanna ask you a question, am I going to prison?,” Brandt asked the 911 operator, according to the document.
During the 911 call, Brandt “made comments regarding the incident being intentional and not an accident,” according to the affidavit.
According to the affidavit, when the 911 operator asked “he wouldn’t let your vehicle go then what happened,” and Brandt responded “yes I…I just tried to take of en , he..he wasn’t going to let me go, I I hit him I didn’t mean to and and he’s subdued I was scared to death but he’s subdued, he can’t do anything to me now so, so this is why I’m calling you.”
“I mean I…I almost oh god, I almost just runaway but I thought jeez obviously if it was a total accident I wouldn’t be scared but I know it was more than that,” Brandt said, according to the affidavit.
