Man charged with murder following street dance appears in court

Shannon Brandt appeared via Zoom from the Stutsman County jail.

Defense attorney Mark Friese of Fargo waived the reading of the charges. Judge Bradley Cruff noted that Brandt had not been able to post bond, which is $1 million.

An original charge of vehicular homicide was dropped.

The case drew national attention when initial reports claimed Brandt’s comments to officers during his arrest indicated Ellingson’s death was politically motivated, but the North Dakota Highway Patrol has denied those claims.