Grace City teen struck, killed in McHenry vehicular incident

In the early morning hours of Sunday, Sept. 18, tragedy struck in McHenry, N.D., when a pedestrian was hit and killed shortly after the McHenry Days street dance.

According to a press release from the N.D. Highway Patrol, 18-year-old Cayler Ellingson of Grace City, N.D., was killed after being struck by 41-year-old Shannon Joseph Brandt of McHenry, driving a 2003 Ford Explorer.

The collision occurred at approximately 2:55 a.m. while Ellingson was walking on Jones Street, directly east of Hohneck Street in McHenry.

Ellingson was transported to CHI St. Alexius Medical Center in Carrington via ambulance, but later died as a result of his injuries. Brandt was uninjured.

Ellingson is the son of Cole and Sheri Ellingson and a 2022 graduate of Carrington High School.

His funeral service will be held Monday, Sept. 26 at 1 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Carrington. Burial will be held at the Grace City Cemetery.

A GoFundMe campaign has been set up for the Ellingson family. In addition, Buck-Its Bar in New Rockford pledged 100 percent of sales on Saturday, Sept. 24 to the family.According to court documents, Brandt was interviewed by law enforcement and admitted to striking Ellingson because of a political argument, and said he believed that Ellingson "was calling people to come get him."

The document adds that Brandt told State Radio "the pedestrian was part of a Republican extremist group."

The document also states that Brandt admitted to drinking alcohol prior to the accident, as well as leaving the scene before returning shortly afterwards and calling 911.

Brandt was taken to the Stutsman County Correctional Center and charged with Criminal Vehicle Homicide-Felony Involving a Motor Vehicle, a Class A Felony, and with Duty In Accident Involving Death or Injury-Death, a Class B felony.

Brandt's initial appearance and bond hearing took place on Monday, Sept. 19 via Zoom. He represented himself and requested an application for a court-appointed attorney. Judge James Hovey set bail at $50,000 cash or surety, as recommended by Foster County State's Attorney Kara Brinster. He was also ordered to have no contact with the Ellingson family and not leave the state throughout the course of the legal proceedings against him.

On Sept. 20, Brandt posted bond and was released from the Stutsman County Correctional Center. He was ordered to participate in the 24/7 sobriety program and wear a SCRAM bracelet.

If found guilty, the Class A Felony charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and/or a $20,000 fine, with a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years imprisonment due to a DUI/APC charge from 2002 already on Brandt's record.

The Class B Felony, meanwhile, carries a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment and/or a $20,000 fine.

N.D. Attorney General Drew Wrigley issued the following statement Thursday, after press time. We have provided it here, in our online edition.

“The loss of a young life is always a tragedy, under any circumstances. Outrageously, in this case, it is alleged that the suspect admitted that his actions were motivated by a dispute over political beliefs. There is no place in civil society for this hateful violence. I call on all North Dakotans to join me in praying for Cayler Ellingson and his family and condemning any and all politically motivated crime.”

“I also call on all Americans, including political leaders, to end this type of rhetoric. Political violence has become all too common and must come to an end.

“As with all crimes of this nature, jurisdiction originates with the independently elected State’s Attorney. That protocol was followed in this instance as well. As my office has made clear to the Foster County State’s Attorney’s office from the earliest hours following this incident, I stand ready to assist with the resources of the North Dakota Attorney General’s Office, including the use of my assistant attorneys general to help prosecute the case. Our Bureau of Criminal Investigation has been working on this investigation from the beginning and will continue to do so.”

The N.D. Highway Patrol and North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) are investigating the circumstances and events that led to the fatal crash. The Carrington Police Department and Foster County Sheriff's Office also responded to the collision.

Brinster issued a press release late Wednesday. "This is still an ongoing investigation, and if any persons have additional information regarding the Defendant, Shannon Brandt, and/or the vehicular crash that occurred on September 18, 2022, in the City of McHenry, Foster County, ND, please contact the Foster County Sheriff's Department at (701) 652-2251, or ND BCI at (701) 328-5000," the release notes. 

Brandt's preliminary hearing/arraignment has been scheduled for Tuesday, October 11, at 3 p.m. in the Foster County Courthouse.

Editor's Note: This is an updated version of the article that was published in the Oct. 26 print edition, based on information obtained after press time.