Thu, May 18th, 2023 - 4:15pm
May 01, 2023 - 2:49pm | By Tom Tucker
(Fargo, ND) -- The Class AA Felony Murder charge against 42-year-old Shannon Brandt of Glenfield, N.D. was reduced Monday to a Class B Felony manslaughter charge.
Brandt is accused of running over 18-year-old Cayler Ellingson after a street dance in McHenry, North Dakota in September of 2022.
"As we have pointed out since the beginning, there is no evidence to support the misplaced allegation of intentional homicide. 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," said Brandt's attorney, Mark Friese in a written statement provided to WDAY Radio Now.
Court documents indicate that Brandt called 911 and claimed he hit Ellingson because he was being threatened.
Brandt told police that Ellingson was part of a republican extremist group and that he feared they were coming after him.
Brandt also admitted to drinking before the incident.
During the four-hour preliminary hearing held in Foster County in December, Brandt’s attorney, Mark Friese, said the judge found that Brandt had intended to drive his vehicle forward, and therefore kept the murder charge.
Brandt’s bond was also reduced from $1 million, cash only to $500,000.
Prior to the murder charge, Brandt was charged with vehicular homicide.
The trial is set to start on May 30th.
