On September 18, 2022, Shannon Brandt, 41, struck 18 year old Cayler Ellingson with his car; this would later lead to the death of Cayler Ellingson in the hospital. 

According to Fox News, On September 18, Shannon Brandt struck Cayler Ellingson with his car after fearing the pedestrian “would come with people to get him.” The court documents stated, “Brandt admitted to State Radio that he hit the pedestrian and that the pedestrian was part of a Republican extremist group.”

According to USNews, Brandt’s charge of vehicular homicide was dropped. But he is now being charged with murder with a dangerous weapon; this charge could mean life behind bars for Brandt. When investigators looked into Brandt’s claims that Ellingson was part of a Republican extremist group, nothing was found to back it up.

When Brandt hit Ellingson, he called the authorities to report what he had done, which is now being looked at as a probable cause affidavit based on what Brandt said to the 911 operator, that he  “made comments regarding the incident being intentional and not an accident.”

After calling the authorities, Brandt fled to his home where the authorities found him intoxicated and over the legal limit to be operating a motor vehicle. 

When asked about the case, Brandt’s attorney, Mark Friese, stated on September 30th that “he would not comment yet because the Ellingson family is grieving, the community is in mourning, and he hasn’t received all of the case background.”  

At this time it is uncertain whether Brandt will be sentenced to life behind bars for the killing of Cayler Ellingson.