ST. PAUL, Minn. – A 30-year-old Ethiopian migrant is facing three counts of second-degree murder after authorities say he gunned down three apartment leasing office employees in cold blood over a $65 monthly parking contract he could not cancel.
Tsegaab Ademassu Binessu was arrested following the July 20 shooting at Davern Park Apartments in St. Paul that left Nansi G. Fuentes Zambrano, 25, Dena M. Silcox, 56, and Adam J. Wilwerding, 43, dead.
Court documents detail a shocking escalation: Binessu reportedly became enraged when staff refused to let him out of his parking agreement after he sold his car.
Surveillance video captured the horrific moment Binessu entered the office, pulled a handgun, and opened fire. One victim was heard screaming "No, no... no no" as the shooting unfolded, according to police reports. Investigators recovered 21 shell casings from the scene.
While being taken into custody, Binessu allegedly told authorities he "hated the American system" and was furious that his family could not immigrate to the U.S. from Ethiopia. He also claimed he was "treated unfairly because he is black and an immigrant," Ramsey County court records state.
The triple homicide has stunned the Highland Park neighborhood, where colleagues remembered the victims as dedicated and kind-hearted professionals. A vigil was held to honor Silcox's love of piano, Wilwerding's popularity with residents, and Fuentes Zambrano's warmth.
Binessu fled the scene in one of the victim's vehicles and later confessed to a roommate before being apprehended about 200 miles away. His bail has been set at $10 million.
The case is renewing questions about immigration enforcement and public safety in Minnesota, a state that has drawn national scrutiny for its handling of migrant communities under Gov. Tim Walz. Critics argue lenient policies and sanctuary-style approaches have contributed to preventable tragedies.
"How is an Ethiopian immigrant allowed access to a firearm?" one resident asked in the wake of the killings. "Three lives for a $65 parking spot is beyond comprehension."Binessu made his first court appearance Tuesday. He has not yet entered a plea.
