Vicky Arias, FISM News
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Shannon Brandt, the man suspected of killing 18-year-old Cayler Ellingson in North Dakota, has been charged with felony murder.
As previously reported by FISM News, Brandt, 41, reportedly ran down Ellingson on September 18 with his vehicle following a political argument between the two men.
After the incident, Brandt called 911 and confessed to authorities that he ran over Ellingson, claiming he believed the teen to be a “Republican extremist” who was calling on people to attack him.
Following the call to 911, police arrested Brandt at his residence in Glenfield, North Dakota, charging him with leaving the scene of an accident involving a death, criminal vehicular manslaughter, and driving while intoxicated.
He served two days in jail before being released on $50,000 bond, in which he likely paid 10 percent, or $5,000. According to the Post Millennial, “former assistant US attorney Neama Rahman called [Brandt’s bail] ‘very low’ and ‘woefully inadequate.’”
After his release, Brandt was not placed on house arrest and no curfew was imposed on him; however, he was not allowed to leave the state of North Dakota.
On Friday, September 30, Foster County State’s Attorney Kara Brinster announced that Brandt is now officially being charged with murder, as well as duty in an accident involving death. The criminal vehicular manslaughter charge was dropped and replaced by the new charge of murder.
Court documents in the case reveal new information. The documents state that “on September 19, 2022, an autopsy of [Ellingson] was conducted…by Doctor Kevin Maley. After the autopsy was completed, Doctor Maley informed [Special Agent] Jeramie Quam that the nature and manner of injuries that [Ellingson] received indicate that [Ellingson] was on the ground when he received [his] injuries. Dr. Maley indicated this means the injuries weren’t caused from being struck by Shannon Brandt’s vehicle [but] were caused by being ran over.”
The documents go on to explain that “there was little to no damage to the front of Shannon Brandt’s Ford Explorer [except] five small cracks in the driver’s side grill.”
Additionally, a court affidavit claims that during Brandt’s call to 911, he “made comments regarding the incident being intentional and not an accident.” The affidavit transcribes parts of Brandt’s 911 call.
“I almost just ran away 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 allegedly told a 911 dispatcher. Brandt did, in fact, flee the scene.
The incident comes just weeks after a divisive and inflammatory speech by President Joe Biden in which he referred to Trump supporters as “MAGA Republicans [who] represent an extremism that threatens the very foundations of our republic,” going on to state that “MAGA Republicans are…destroying American democracy.”
Ted Cruz connected the president’s speech with the teen’s death, saying on Twitter that the “Dems hateful rhetoric continues to bear toxic fruit.”
Cayler Ellingson’s funeral was held on Monday, September 26.