Driver kills teenager over political argument, justifies his actions by saying he is a "Republican extremist"

A man identified as Shannon Brandt has been accused of murder after running over a teenager, Cayler Ellingson, with an SUV in an alley in McHenry, North Dakota, early Sunday morning. The incident occured following a political argument and later under the pretext that the victim was part of a Republican "extremist group". Minutes before, both were participating in a street dance.

According to initial reports, the homicide was not the result of an accident, but apparently an attack for the political reasons indicated above. The alleged murderer called 911 to report the incident. Authorities said he was allegedly drunk. Brandt has been charged with manslaughter and leaving the scene of a fatal accident.

Prosecutors allege that moments before the event, Ellingson called his mother to come to his rescue because he was being chased by Brandt. Brandt's family along with Ellingson's family showed up shortly after rescue personnel arrived on the scene.

"We don't know of any witnesses. We are still making attempts to interview potential witnesses who were present at the street dance," said Bryan Niewind, captain of the North Dakota Highway Patrol, according to a report by Inforum. The police also conveyed that if convicted of the murder charge, Brandt would face a minimum of 10 years in prison because his records show that this is not the first time he has driven under the influence of substances.

The victim's family has opened a fundraiser on gofundme to help pay for funeral expenses.