North Dakota Driver Released After Confessing to Killing Teen for His Political Beliefs
Well, that didn’t take long.
The North Dakota man who allegedly confessed to killing an 18-year-old man because of his political beliefs was released from jail on Tuesday after posting a $50,000 bond. Shannon Brandt, 41, spent only a few days in custody on charges related to the killing of Cayler Ellingson before being freed.
The victim had been attending a street dance in his neighborhood when he phoned his mother to come to pick him up. He made the call after Brandt began chasing him in his car.
Unfortunately, Ellingson’s mother was unable to make it to the scene before Brandt allegedly ran him over in his car, killing him.
The suspect confessed to police that he killed the young man because he was supposedly part of a “Republican extremist group” and had called people to get Brandt after they had a political disagreement. This mirrors the language President Joe Biden used against conservatives when he gave a widely-panned speech in Philadelphia, PA, earlier this month.
Fox News reported:
Brandt, a Glenfield resident, was arrested in the early morning hours of Sunday after he told the state first responders’ radio that “he struck the pedestrian because the pedestrian was threatening him,” according to a probable-cause affidavit provided to Fox News Digital on Wednesday morning.
“Brandt stated that the pedestrian called some people and Brandt was afraid they were coming to get him,” the document continues. “Brandt admitted to State Radio that he hit the pedestrian and that the pedestrian was part of a Republican extremist group.”
“Brandt admitted to striking the pedestrian with his car because he had a political argument with the pedestrian and believed the pedestrian was calling people to come get him,” according to court documents. “Brandt admitted to leaving the scene of the incident and returning shortly after where he called 911.”
The suspect admitted to being inebriated at the time of the attack.
So far, this story has been covered primarily by local news affiliates. The only major outlets that have picked up the story are right-leaning. As of this writing, CNN, MSNBC, ABC News, and other left-leaning activist media companies have continued to ignore the tragedy.
Brandt is being charged with vehicular homicide and leaving the scene of a deadly accident. He had been previously convicted of a DUI. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison.
