A North Dakota man accused of intentionally hitting a teenage boy with his vehicle last September has had his charges reduced from murder to manslaughter.
Last year, 41-year-old Shannon Brandt confessed to killing 18-year-old Cayler Ellingson because of his “extremist” conservative views, after engaging in a heated political argument at a street festival. After the verbal altercation, Brandt reportedly chased Ellington down, and he fatally hit the teen with his vehicle and proceeded to flee the scene.
Brandt did not provide Ellington with any medical aid but instead went to his home where he called the police. First responders rushed Ellington to the hospital, but he did not survive the targeted attack.
Initially, Brandt was charged with criminal vehicular homicide, but the charge was later upgraded to felony murder, which carries the potential of a life sentence in prison. He was also charged with leaving the scene of a deadly accident and “fail[ing] to render aid as required” by state law. Although Brandt admitted to being under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident, officers did not charge him with a DUI.
According to a probable-cause affidavit obtained by Fox News Digital, Brandt killed the victim because of his alleged “extreme” conservative political beliefs.
Brandt spent mere days in Stutsman County Jail before he was released on a $50,000 bond. Many around the country questioned why a man who confessed to killing a teenager over political and ideological disagreement was able to post bail in the first place, as he was a clear and present threat to the community.
Earlier this month, Brandt’s charges were reduced from felony murder to manslaughter, which carries a maximum sentencing of 10 years in prison if he is found guilty. His attorney, Mark Friese, told the Associated Press that the Foster County State Attorney, Kara Brinster, “chose to reduce the charge,” stating that, “it was not part of a plea deal.”
It is still unclear why the state attorney chose to reduce Brandt’s charges after he confessed to officers that he killed Ellingson because of a political disagreement.
