North Dakota Man Accused of Murdering Conservative

Facts

• 41-year-old Shannon Brandt - a North Dakota man charged with vehicular homicide in the death of 18-year-old Cayler Ellingson on Sunday - was released from jail on Tuesday after posting a $50K bond.
• Brandt, who's also been charged with leaving the scene of an accident that resulted in death, allegedly returned to the scene briefly to call 911 before leaving again. The killing was reportedly the result of a political argument.
• Brandt reportedly admitted to authorities that he drank alcohol before the incident, striking Ellingson with his vehicle. He reportedly thought the teen was part of "a Republican extremist group" who was calling others to pursue him.
• Ellingson's mother said she was on her way to pick her son up when he called her at around 2:40 am to ask if she knew Brandt. He reportedly called again saying "that 'he' or 'they' were chasing him," but after that, she could no longer reach him.
• At his court hearing on Monday, Brandt reportedly objected to the bail amount and claimed he wasn't a flight risk, adding that he has "a job, a life, and a house and things that I don't exactly want to see go by the wayside."
• The North Dakota Highway Patrol stated that the political argument claim made by Brandt can't be verified. The investigation is continuing and additional witnesses will be interviewed.

Sources: CBS, Daily Wire, Independent, and FOX News.

Narratives

• Right narrative, as provided by PJ Media. This murder highlights the very real danger of establishment Democrats - exemplified by Biden in his recent "anti-MAGA speech" - calling their political opponents "semi-fascists" and a "threat to democracy." This is the sad culmination of this hateful rhetoric, coupled with the media's willful blindness toward left-wing violence.
• Left narrative, as provided by The New York Times. This, and any murder, is tragic - especially one committed against a young person. Nevertheless, false claims that left-wing violence is more prevalent only obfuscate the dangerous reality. We must not let this tragic event distract from the fact that right-wing extremism in particular is on the rise and poses a clear and present danger.