Killing of Cayler Ellingson

{{short description|2022 homicide in North Dakota}}

{{Use American English|date=May 2025}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2023}}

{{infobox civilian attack

|title=Killing of Cayler Ellingson

|location=McHenry, North Dakota, U.S.

|date={{start date and age|2022|9|18}}

|target=Cayler Ellingson

|type=Vehicle-ramming attack

|fatalities=1

|assailant=Shannon Brandt

|weapons=Ford Explorer SUV

|charges=Manslaughter

{{infobox event

|title=

|child=yes

|sentence=5 years in prison}}

}}

On September 18, 2022, 18-year-old Cayler Ellingson was killed in a vehicle-ramming attack around McHenry, North Dakota. After he was struck by a Ford Explorer SUV driven by a 41-year-old man, Shannon Brandt, Ellingson was taken to a hospital in Carrington, North Dakota, where he was pronounced dead.

Brandt called 9-1-1. An initial highway patrol report claimed that Brandt said he attacked Ellingson for being part of a "Republican extremist group".{{cite news |last1=Stunson |first1=Mike |date=2022-09-22 |title=Man admits to running over 18-year-old after they had political argument, ND cops say |url=https://www.kansascity.com/news/nation-world/national/article266169916.html |url-status=live |work=The Kansas City Star |language=en |issn=0745-1067 |oclc=3555868 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220923045347/https://www.kansascity.com/news/nation-world/national/article266169916.html |archive-date=2022-09-23 |access-date=2023-05-29 |url-access=subscription}} Brandt said that the victim was calling someone else on the phone before he attacked,{{Cite web |last=Sabes |first=Adam |date=September 25, 2022 |title=North Dakota cops say 'no evidence' Cayler Ellingson was 'Republican extremist' or death 'involved politics' |url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/north-dakota-police-say-evidence-suggesting-death-cayler-ellingson-involved-politics |access-date=September 25, 2022 |website=Fox News |language=en-US}} who was later identified as Ellingson's mother.{{Cite web |title=North Dakota driver charged with fatally striking teenager says he purposely hit the teen after a political argument |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/shannon-brandt-vehicular-homicide-cayler-ellingson-says-he-hit-teen-after-political-argument-north-dakota/ |access-date=September 25, 2022 |website=CBS News |language=en-US}} Brandt reportedly interpreted the call as an attempt to report him to others.{{Cite web |last=Sabes |first=Adam |date=September 23, 2022 |title=North Dakota high school holds moment of silence for slain Cayler Ellingson during homecoming football game |url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/north-dakota-high-school-holds-moment-silence-slain-cayler-ellingson-during-homecoming-football-game |access-date=September 25, 2022 |website=Fox News |language=en-US}} According to North Dakota Highway Patrol Capt. Bryan Niewind there was "no evidence" to Brandt's assertions "that this incident involved politics". The 911 transcript includes Brandt saying that Ellingson “was saying something about some Republican extremist group,” and that Brandt feared that Ellingson was calling someone to "take care of him."{{cite news |last1=Baumgarten |first1=April |date=2023-01-09 |title=Trial of North Dakota man accused of killing teen after street dance moved to new location |url=https://www.inforum.com/news/north-dakota/trail-of-north-dakota-man-accused-of-killing-teen-after-street-dance-moved-to-new-location |url-status=live |work=The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead |language=en |location=Wahpeton, North Dakota |issn=0895-1292 |oclc=9563116 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204000738/https://www.inforum.com/news/north-dakota/trail-of-north-dakota-man-accused-of-killing-teen-after-street-dance-moved-to-new-location |archive-date=2023-02-04 |access-date=2023-05-29 |quote=Shannon Brandt is slated to go to trial on May 30 in Wahpeton, North Dakota. He is accused of running over Cayler Ellingson with a vehicle.}}

A blood test found Brandt's blood alcohol content level was 0.08, above the legal limit for driving.{{cite news |last1=Rose |first1=Andy |last2=Riess |first2=Rebekah |date=2022-09-22 |title=Man admits fatally striking 18-year-old with vehicle after 'political argument,' police say |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/09/22/us/north-dakota-teenager-vehicular-homicide/index.html |url-status=live |language=en |publisher=CNN |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221210034647/https://www.cnn.com/2022/09/22/us/north-dakota-teenager-vehicular-homicide/index.html |archive-date=2022-12-10 |access-date=2023-05-29}}

In May 2023, Brandt pleaded guilty to manslaughter in connection with Ellingson's death. In September 2023, Brandt was sentenced to five years in prison.{{cite news|last=Dura|first=Jack|date=September 8, 2023|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/north-dakota-man-sentenced-5-years-prison-running-103042287|title=A North Dakota man was sentenced to 5 years in prison for running over and killing a teen last year|location=Bismarck, North Dakota|publisher=ABC News|access-date=September 9, 2023}}