Migrant allegedly kills 3 apartment building staffers over parking lot contract dispute
An African migrant upset over being unable to cancel his monthly $65 parking garage contract allegedly shot and killed three property managers at his Minnesota apartment building over the dispute, authorities said.
Tsegaab Ademassu Binessu, 30, was charged with three counts of second-degree murder with intent following the alleged slayings Monday of Nansi G. Fuentes Zambrano, 25, Dena M. Silcox, 56, and 43-year-old Adam J. Wilwerding at the St. Paul complex, court documents state.
The rampage began after Binessu, from Ethiopia, called the apartment building staffers to cancel his $65 monthly parking contract because he had sold his car. He was told he could not do so after recently renewing the agreement.
Despite being told the contract could not be canceled, Binessu said he would be going to the management office in person, prosecutors said.
Once there, he allegedly opened fire, killing all three victims. Police later found 21, 9 mm shell casings in the leasing office.
Shortly after the shooting, a man called the police stating that he had been Binessu's roommate since 2018. He said Binessu, who had aspirations of joining the U.S. Navy, called him and confessed to the triple murder, adding that he was walking to the police station.
Binessu worked as a trucker but quit two months ago, the roommate told authorities, and had planned on enlisting in the military. He sold his car the same day as the shooting, police said.
The roommate said he spoke with Binessu, who allegedly said he "argued with apartment management and ended up killing three people."
Surveillance footage reviewed by investigators captured Binessu talking with Silcox and Wilwerding.
At some point, Binessu allegedly pulled up his shirt, grabbed his gun from his waistband, pointed the weapon at Wilwerding, who put his hands in front of his body, and shot him three times.
Binessu then fired three more times as Wilwerding fell to the floor, court documents said.
Silcox screamed and covered her ears when Binessu allegedly shot Wilwerding, saying, "No, no — no, no, no."
Binessu is then accused of shooting Silcox five times in rapid succession, according to court documents. As she wheeled her chair away from the desk, Binessu allegedly shot her a sixth time.
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Binessu stalked around the office and said, "Motherf------ b----," court documents said. He then moved toward a hallway out of the camera's view, where a woman's screams could be heard followed by four more gunshots.
Prosecutors said Binessu was arrested while driving Fuentes Zambrano's car, which contained what appeared to be newly purchased camping gear, according to the charges. Inside the vehicle, authorities found his U.S. passport, Social Security card, an empty handgun magazine and his gun permit.
During an interview with investigators, Binessu allegedly voiced frustration with the "prolonged immigration process" and not being able to bring his wife and children to the United States for seven years, which he said contributed to his divorce and separation from his children.
"Binessu believes he was treated unfairly because he is Black and an immigrant," the documents said. "Binessu repeatedly said he has lost everything he cared about: his wife, his children, his business, his peace of mind. Binessu said life without his family no longer made sense."
He remains in police custody.