Ethiopian migrant who 'hates the American system' charged in triple homicide over parking space in Minnesota

An Ethiopian migrant living in Minnesota allegedly shot and killed three staffers at his apartment complex after he was unable to cancel his parking garage contract. 

30-year-old Tsegaab Binessu attempted to cancel his $65-a-month parking garage contract because he wanted to join the Navy. He contacted staff to inquire about cancelling, but they said he could not opt out because he had just renewed the contract. Binessu responded by saying he was going to come down to the leasing office.

Court documents stated that he “went to the leasing office a short time after that phone call and he executed three workers.” Among the victims were Nansi Fuentes Zambrano, 25, Dena Silcox, 56, and Adam Wilwerding, 43. 

Wilwerding was a community manager who was shot six times. Silcox, the assistant manager who worked there for nearly a decade, was also shot multiple times, screaming “No, no – no no” after Wilwerding was shot. Zabmabrdo was found dead in a back room of the office. She tried to escape through a window after being shot and was found with a gunshot to the head. 

In total, 21 bullet casings were found throughout the office. 

Binessu was arrested in Virginia, Minnesota, roughly 200 miles from where the crime took place. He reportedly confessed to the murders on a call with a roommate who later notified law enforcement. Court documents said that Binnesu told his roommate “he had argued with apartment management and ended up killing three people.”

According to a report by the New York Post, Binnesu was arrested driving Zambrano’s car. During his interrogation, he said that he “hated the American system,” as he had been working for over seven years to bring his wife and kids over from Ethiopia, but the process had stalled, which he claimed contributed to his divorce. 

“Binessu believes he was treated unfairly because he is black and an immigrant,” said the court documents. “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.”

Binensu has been charged with second-degree murder and faces 40 years in prison for each murder. He is set to appear in court on Wednesday.