The man responsible for mowing down and killing a teenager with his SUV after a political argument has said he doesn’t want to lose things “important” to him like his family and job.
Cayler Ellingson, 18, was fatally run down by Shannon Brandt, 41, in an alleyway after a street dance on Sunday morning.
Bradnt said he had been drinking alcohol before the pair began to have a verbal argument about politics. He said he had felt “threatened” because he believed the teen had been urging others to attack him:
“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,” the court documents say.
“Brandt admitted to State Radio that he hit the pedestrian and that the pedestrian was part of a Republican extremist group.
18-year-old Cayler Ellingson was murdered by 41-year-old Shannon Brandt, who admitted to running over Ellington, claiming he was afraid the teen was a "Republican extremist."
Tell me, which side is typically seen engaging in violence and extremism again? pic.twitter.com/meA4MZN509
— Alana Mastrangelo (@ARmastrangelo) September 21, 2022
“Brandt admitted to leaving the scene of the incident and returning shortly after where he called 911.”
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Ellingson’s parents said that did not believe their son knew Brandt, but said they recognized him. They had been on their way to pick their son up when he frantically called his mother to say that “he” or “they” were chasing him. Ellingson was taken from the scene to a local hospital but died of his injuries.
He has been charged with vehicular homicide and leaving the scene of an accident but has left Stutsman County Jail on a $50,000 bond after just a few days inside.
During a court hearing on Monday, a non-plussed Brandt said he did not “understand the differences” when his charge was announced before going on to say that he felt he should not be charged for the murder because he had a house, job and family:
“I have a job, a life and a house and things that I don’t exactly want to see go by the wayside — family that are very important to me,” he said.
🚨 41-year-old suspected killer Shannon Brandt, who admitted to hitting 18-year-old Cayler Ellingson with his car over the teen's conservative views, was RELEASED yesterday on $50k bond. Brandt has been charged with vehicular homicide and leaving the scene of a deadly accident. pic.twitter.com/ulWpwOa5CN
— Mia Cathell (@MiaCathell) September 21, 2022
The case is a classic example of left-wing violence and brutality which is always swept under the carpet by the mainstream media. Nor do they ever suggest that it indicates a wider problem with political extremist, as they always do after a one-off incident where the perpetrator has expressed right-wing views.
Donald Trump Jr., Tweeted:
“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!”
Cops say they are still investigating what happened in the run-up to the crime and they will interview witnesses about the alleged political argument which Brandt said had occurred.
Will mainstream media point the finger of blame at Biden for stoking hatred against Republicans and suggesting that all MAGA supporters are “extremists” in his Philadelphia speech just a few weeks ago as they did whenever an individual Republican committed a violent act during Trump’s presidency? It never works that way around.