A Minnesota man has been charged with three counts of second-degree murder after police say he fatally shot three leasing office employees when they told him he could not cancel a parking garage contract he had just renewed, authorities said.
Background
Tsegaab Binessu, 30, was a tenant at an apartment complex in St. Paul where the shooting occurred on Sunday afternoon. According to a probable cause statement reviewed by Law&Crime, Binessu had contacted leasing office employees earlier that day about canceling his parking garage contract because he planned to sell his car. The employee told police that after being informed he could not cancel the contract he recently renewed, Binessu said he would come to the office to discuss the matter in person.
Police said when Binessu arrived at the leasing office, he found three employees there: 25-year-old Nansi Fuentes Zambrano, 43-year-old Adam Wilderwing, and 56-year-old Dena Silcox. All three were found dead at the scene by responding officers.
Binessu's roommate told police that Binessu had quit his job as a trucker two months earlier and planned to enlist in the U.S. Navy. The roommate said Binessu had been trying to bring his former wife and children over from Ethiopia for seven years but was frustrated by what he described as a prolonged immigration process.
The Investigation
According to court documents, security video captured the entire shooting inside the leasing office. Police said Wilderwing had been seated behind a desk speaking with Binessu when the suspect lifted his shirt, pulled a gun from his waistband, and chambered a round. Investigators said Binessu then shot Wilderwing three times before he fell to the floor, and fired three more rounds into him as he lay there.
Police allege Binessu turned his weapon on Silcox next. Witnesses reported hearing her say 'No, no — no, no, no' before being shot five times. Court documents state Binessu called Silcox a derogatory name before heading down a hallway out of camera view, where a woman's screams were heard followed by four more gunshots.
Investigators recovered 21 spent 9 mm casings at the scene. Police believe Zambrano was attempting to escape through a window when she was shot.
After the shooting, Binessu returned to his apartment and told his roommate he had argued with management and ended up killing three people, according to authorities. He then said he planned to walk to the police station himself.
St. Paul police arrested Binessu on Monday night while he was driving Zambrano's 2017 Chrysler 300. Officers found him in possession of a U.S. passport, Social Security card, an empty magazine, and his firearm permit.
Key Takeaways
- Tsegaab Binessu, 30, has been charged with three counts of second-degree murder in Ramsey County
- The victims were identified as Nansi Fuentes Zambrano (25), Adam Wilderwing (43), and Dena Silcox (56)
- Police say the shooting was captured on security video inside the apartment complex's leasing office
- Binessu allegedly told police after his arrest that he 'hated the American system' and blamed his divorce on immigration delays
- Zambrano's vehicle was recovered when officers arrested Binessu the following night
What's Next
Binessu is being held at the Ramsey County Jail without bail. His first court appearance was scheduled for Wednesday where prosecutors are expected to outline the charges against him. The case is set to proceed through Minnesota's court system as investigators continue processing evidence from the scene.
Detectives say they have reviewed security footage and collected physical evidence that will support the murder charges. Binessu's attorney has not yet issued a public statement on the allegations.