Expand / Collapse search
Watch TV
Menu

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2024 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by Factset. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Legal Statement. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper.

North Dakota

North Dakota man who killed an 18-year-old boy following political argument has charges reduced

NH man told authorities the teen he killed was a Republican extremist

Associated Press
Published
close
Fox News Flash top headlines for May 2 Video

Fox News Flash top headlines for May 2

Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com.

  • Shannon Brandt was accused of running over a teenage boy in North Dakota after a political argument in September 2022.
  • Brandt claimed the boy who he killed, Cayler Ellingson, was a Republican extremist. He also said he was afraid that Ellingson was calling for people to "come and get him."
  • According to North Dakota court documents, Brandt has had his charges reduced from murder to manslaughter.

A man accused of intentionally running over an 18-year-old at a street dance in North Dakota had his charges reduced from murder to manslaughter, according to court documents filed Monday.

Shannon Brandt, 42, of Glenfield, North Dakota, initially said he hit and killed Cayler Ellingson in McHenry, about 150 miles northeast of Bismarck, after a political argument in September 2022.

The case drew attention on social media after Brandt told authorities Ellingson was a Republican extremist and that he was afraid that Ellingson was calling people to "come and get him," according to court records.

CAYLER ELLINGSON: FUNERAL SET FOR 18-YEAR-OLD ALLEGEDLY MOWED DOWN BY SHANNON BRANDT

But investigators have since said the case was not political and there is no evidence to support Brandt’s claim that Ellingson was a Republican extremist.

Brandt was first charged with criminal vehicular homicide but the charge was later upgraded to felony murder. He has also been charged with leaving the scene of a crash that resulted in death.

Shannon Brandt

Shannon Brandt, a man accused of intentionally running over an 18-year-old boy in North Dakota, had his charges reduced from murder to manslaughter. (Stutsman County Sheriffs Office via AP, File)

Foster County State Attorney Kara Brinster was not available Monday afternoon to discuss why the charge was reduced to manslaughter.

NORTH DAKOTA LAWMAKERS PASS NEAR-TOTAL ABORTION BAN WITH VETO-PROOF MAJORITIES

Brandt's attorney, Mark Friese, said in an email that Brinster chose to reduce the charge and it was not part of a plea deal. The case is still scheduled to go to trial on May 30.

"As we have pointed out since the beginning, there is no evidence to support the misplaced allegation of intentional homicide," Friese said. "The state and defense forensic experts have provided comprehensive reports confirming this tragedy was an accident. Misplaced media hype and community conjecture is no substitute for evidence. Mr. Brandt is anxious for the truth to be told to a jury at trial."

Instead of life in prison for a murder conviction, Brandt could be sentenced to a maximum of 10 years if found guilty of manslaughter.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

A probable cause affidavit said Brandt left the scene and was visibly intoxicated when authorities found him at his home in Glenfield.

Ellingson was on the ground when he suffered his fatal injuries, which indicates "the injuries weren’t caused from being struck by Shannon Brandt’s vehicle and were caused by being run over," according to an autopsy.