Brief:

A North Dakota man is being charged with murder after admitting to intentionally hitting an 18-year-old after a political dispute, claiming the boy was part of a Republican “extremist group.”

Background:

Shannon Brandt, 41, murdered 18-year-old Cayler Ellingson by running him down with his SUV in an alley after a political discussion turned into an argument. Brandt is being charged with vehicular homicide and leaving the scene of an accident.

Brandt originally said he was drunk when he hit the teen. Later, he said he felt threatened because Ellingson was a member of an unnamed extremist conservative group and, according to Brandt, “was calling people to come after him (Brandt). ”A breathalizer showed his alcohol above the legal driving limit.

The police report stated, “there is no evidence to support the claim Brandt made” in reference to Ellingson being part of any political group or the threats. Reports show Ellingson had called his mother twice during the incident — the first time to ask if she knew who Brandt was, and the second time to warn that “he” or “they” were chasing him, according to the New York Post. Police also say there is no evidence to support the occurrence of a political discussion between either party.

Brandt is free after being released on bond.