Shannon Brandt, 41, from North Dakota allegedly admitted to fatally striking 18-year-old Cayler Ellingson following ‘a political argument’
A driver charged with fatally striking a teenager in North Dakota allegedly told investigators he purposely hit the teen with his SUV after they had a political argument, according to court documents.
Cayler Ellingson, 18, was struck and killed following a street dance in McHenry early on Sunday.
The driver accused of striking Ellingson in an alley. Shannon Brandt, 41, is charged in Foster County with vehicular homicide and leaving the scene of an accident that resulted in death.
Jail records from Stutsman County, where Brandt was being held, show he posted $50,000 bond on Tuesday and was released.
Brandt told investigators he left the scene after striking Ellingson, returned briefly, called 911 and then left again, according to a probable cause affidavit.
The court document said Brandt told investigators he had been drinking alcohol before striking Ellingson and thought the teen was calling people to do him harm after they argued and that he felt threatened.
He told state first responders that ‘he struck the pedestrian (Ellingson) because the pedestrian was threatening him.’
18-year-old Cayler Ellingson was struck by a car following ‘a political argument’ on Sunday
The case caught the attention of the son of former President Trump, Donald Trump Jr.
‘Brandt stated that he had a political argument with the pedestrian who then called some people with Brandt was afraid they were coming to get him,’ court documents detail.
‘Brandt admitted to State Radio that he hit the pedestrian and that the pedestrian was part of a Republican extremist group.’
‘Brandt admitted to leaving the scene of the incident and returning shortly after where he called 911.’
Ellingson was rushed to a hospital in Carrington with serious injuries. He was pronounced dead.
Ellingson was rushed to hospital with serious injuries, but could not be saved
Ellingson was rushed to hospital with serious injuries but was pronounced dead shortly after
The families of both Brandt and Ellingson both showed up at the scene shortly after police arrived.
Investigators arrested Brandt at his home in Glenfield later on Sunday.
Brandt ‘admitted to consuming alcohol prior to the incident,’ records show.
Officials said he consented to a chemical breath test which showed his blood alcohol content was above 0.08%, the legal limit to drive.
The case caught the attention of the son of former President Trump, Donald Trump Jr.
‘An 18 y/o conservative is murdered by 41 year old leftist & the media is totally silent. No connection to Joe Biden and his insane speech of just 2 weeks ago… it’s as though it never happened & doesn’t matter. Of course Trump would not get that benefit b/c our media is broken!’ he tweeted on Tuesday.
Brandt was charged with criminal vehicular homicide and leaving the scene of a crash involving a death; he was also charged with driving under the influence
Capt. Bryan Niewind of the North Dakota Highway Patrol, which helped investigate the death, said the political argument claim by Brandt has not been substantiated because the investigation is still ongoing and more witnesses need to be interviewed.
The specific details of the alleged argument were not released.
Ellingson’s parents later told police they knew Brandt, but they did not believe their son did, the affidavit said.
Ellingson’s mother described how she was on her way to pick up her son from McHenry when he called her about 2:40am and asked if she knew Brandt.
Ellingson called again a short time later and said ‘that “he” or “they” were chasing him.’
She could no longer reach him after that, the document said.