MCHENRY, ND – The 41-year-old suspect accused of killing an 18-year-old over the teen victim’s Republican leanings has reportedly made bail mere days after the victim was allegedly run down by the suspect’s vehicle. The news of the release is particularly unnerving, as authorities say the suspect had already confessed to killing the teen intentionally.
As previously reported, 18-year-old Cayler Ellingson had attended a “street dance” in McHenry during the early-morning hours of September 18th, when authorities say he was fatally struck by an SUV being driven by 41-year-old Shannon Brandt following some kind of political disagreement.
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Court documents proclaim Brandt had called 911 at approximately 2:30 a.m. on September 18th, telling the dispatcher that he’d intentionally used his vehicle to hit Ellingson, reportedly justifying the fatal attack by claiming that the victim was part of a “Republican extremist group,” and that he believed Ellingson had “called some people” whom he thought “were coming to get him.”
At the time of the incident, Ellingson was walking along Jones Street and was apparently aware he was being pursued by Brandt in his vehicle, with the victim calling his mother and asking whether she personally knew the individual chasing him. Ellingson’s mother apparently did know Brandt to some degree, but the nature of that familiarity has yet to be shared by authorities.
Brandt was reportedly under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident and was later arrested and charged with vehicular homicide and leaving the scene of a deadly accident on September 19th. Officials say additional charges could be brought forth as the investigation develops.
In North Dakota, a conviction of vehicular homicide carries a sentence of 10 to 20 years in prison, yet despite the severity of the charges Brandt is facing, his bail was set at a mere $50,000.
At the time of Brandt’s initial court appearance, where bail was set, he objected to the idea of any bail being imposed, telling the judge, “I have a job, a life and a house and things I don’t want to see go by the wayside — family that are very important to me.”
Townhall reporter Mia Cathell confirmed Brandt made bail on September 20th – two days after Ellingson was killed. Cathell further noted that Brandt is apparently “scrubbing his social media” accounts in light of his release from jail.
It’s unclear as of this time whether Brandt has obtained an attorney in the matter.
A GoFundMe account that was established to help the Ellingson family with funeral expenses has exceeded $21,000 in donations as of this writing.
Visitation services for Ellingson are slated to be held on September 25th at Evans Funeral Home in Carrington, with funeral services being conducted at Trinity Lutheran Church on September 26th.
This piece was written by Gregory Hoyt on September 21, 2022. It originally appeared on RedVoiceMedia.com and is used with permission.
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If it was my child killed it would be OK if he was released. That may have kept his family safe or not, probably not. Good thing for all it is not my kid this filthy animal slaughtered. Obviously there will be no justice served in the banana republic of america.
An admitted murderer is on the street? fair game IMO.
When you spend years breathlessly screeching that republicans are Nazis, racists, threats to democracy, destroying the planet, you’re going to get idiots who feel justified turning to violence. This is what the hateful lefties are hoping for.
There are 2 reasons for pre-trial confinement. First, ensure someone of violent tendencies does not hurt more people. Second, to prevent vigilante justice. After a few of these people disappear or assume room temperature, there will be many fewer get out of jail free cards issued.
Except there doesn’t seem to be any on the right (except the brave commenters) who have the backbone to actually DO anything.
Beware of the parents! I know if that were my child, this guy wouldn’t have long on earth.
I would bet a dollar to a doughnut that the judge and the murderer are both members of the fascist democRAT Communist party.
So that pathetic POS Brandt has a job and family and things he doesn’t want to lose? Yet the kid he deliberately hit and killed didn’t have a life, a family? Extremist leftist trash like Brandt prove the violent intentions of the entire Democratic and Liberal party against anyone whose politics don’t match theirs! Just another KKK running loose now to kill again until someone stops him for good! This is all we’ve seen now the last 10 years from the Left! More violence, killing, shooting, robbery, arson, rioting, assassination attempts, and bombings!