(ReclaimingAmerica.net) – The North Dakota man who killed an 18-year-old who he claimed was “part of a Republican extremist group” faces a maximum sentence of only ten years in prison, a report reveals.
42-year-old Shannon Brandt has admitted to killing Cayler Ellingson by running him over with his SUV, Breitbart News reports.
Brandt hit and ran over the 18-year-old because he was afraid the latter was “part of a Republican extremist group and (that) he was afraid they were ‘coming to get him.’”
After visiting the crime scene, sheriff’s deputies went to Brandt’s house in Glenfield, North Dakota, some 12 minutes away, according to Valley News Live.
“Brandt admitted to consuming alcohol before the incident and stated he hit Ellingson with his car because he had a political argument with him. Brandt also admitted to deputies that he initially left the crash scene, then returned to call 911, but left again before deputies could arrive,” the report informs.
As per court documents, right before he was killed, Ellingson called his mother to ask if she knew who Brandt was. She replied affirmatively and said she was going to pick him up. Her son called again to tell her that “he” or “they” were chasing him. He couldn’t be reached after that.
The suspect was charged with vehicular manslaughter, with a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. He was at first charged with murder, but prosecutors reduced the charge.
Last week, he struck a plea deal with the prosecution, thus avoiding a trial that was to begin on May 30.
Brandt’s attorney, Mark Friese, claimed the guilty plea was meant “to protect the involved families from the adversariness of trial.”
“The prosecution amended the charge from homicide to manslaughter. We were unaware of their intention to do so until shortly before they did,” Friese said.
He argued that the prosecution’s depositions of three defense witnesses must have offered a “much clearer picture” of what happened.
“[It is Brandt’s] desire to protect the involved families from the adversariness of trial. Shannon has never denied responsibility for his part in this tragic accident. A plea of guilty permits him to accept responsibility while limiting the stress and emotional toll for all involved,” the lawyer insisted.
American Greatness reports that Dr. Kevin Maley, the medical examiner who performed Ellingson’s autopsy, concluded that the victim had been on the ground when he suffered fatal injuries.
“The injuries weren’t caused from being struck by Shannon Brandt’s vehicle and were caused by being run over,” the doctor wrote.
Breitbart points out the murder of Ellingson occurred just weeks after Democrat President Joe Biden described “MAGA Republicans” as dangerous “extremists” and “white supremacists.”
“There is no question that the Republican party today is dominated, driven, and intimidated by Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans, and that is a threat to this country,” Biden said in a primetime address at the time.
The 42-year-old North Dakota man who admitted to killing 18-year-old Cayler Ellingson by running him over with his SUV because he was “part of a Republican extremist group,” faces a maximum of just ten years in prison. https://t.co/Jdd5ZVaHYy
— Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) May 21, 2023
