North Dakota: Little evidence of political argument before teen's death
Earlier DU threads:
• Man admits to killing teen after political dispute in Foster Co., court docs allege
• Police: Driver admitted to intentionally killing teen at North Dakota street after political dispute
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Source: Associated Press
Little evidence of political argument before teen’s death
September 25, 2022
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — There is little indication that an 18-year-old who died after being struck by an SUV in North Dakota was a political extremist like the driver claimed.
Investigators say none of the witnesses they have interviewed support the idea that there was a political argument before authorities say Shannon Brandt struck Cayler Ellingson with his vehicle on Sept. 18 in McHenry, and a family friend who knew the teen said he wasn’t active in politics.
Court documents said Brandt told a 911 dispatcher that he felt threatened after having a political argument with Ellingson, and that he believed the teen was part of a “Republican extremist group.”
North Dakota Highway Patrol Capt. Bryan Niewind said Friday that authorities have talked to dozens of witnesses and plan to talk to more as they try to get a better picture of exactly what happened before the crash.
“I can’t get into details about what the witnesses are describing to us. But what I can tell you is that this is not political in nature at all,” he said, adding: “There is no evidence to support Brandt’s claim on the 911 call that Mr. Ellingson was a Republican extremist. There is no evidence to support that all through our continued investigation.”
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Read more: https://apnews.com/article/bismarck-north-dakota-c6a2c46243e6655dd71a47b7df55087e