An unhappy immigrant reportedly went on a violent spree at a Minnesota apartment building, shooting and killing three employees after his attempt to cancel a parking contract failed.
The suspect, Tsegarb-Biness, aged 30, is believed to have shot Nanci Fuentes Zambrano, 25, Dena Silcox, 56, and Adam Wilwarding, 43, at a St. Paul complex, on a Monday afternoon, according to local reports.
Biness, an Ethiopian national, sought to terminate his $65 monthly parking agreement as he aimed to enlist in the Navy, documents reveal.
He reached out to the staff regarding the cancellation, but was informed that he couldn’t proceed since his contract had recently been renewed.
Following the phone call, Biness indicated he would be heading to the leasing office, at which point, things escalated.
According to legal documents, he arrived at the leasing office and shot three employees, including community manager Will Warding, known as AJ, six times, and Silcox six times as well.
Silcox, who had been with the company for nearly a decade, was reportedly heard pleading during Warding’s shooting. She was shot five times almost immediately after his attack, then, according to witnesses, Biness fired more shots, leading to her collapse.
Surveillance footage captured the chaos, including screams and Biness allegedly firing more shots afterwards.
Fuentes Zambrano was discovered dead in a back room after being shot while trying to flee through a window; she had a gunshot wound to her head.
The investigation uncovered 21 shell casings at the scene.
Biness was later apprehended in Virginia, Minnesota, approximately 320 miles from where the event occurred. He reportedly confessed to the killings during a phone conversation with his roommate, who then notified the authorities.
Documents state that he told his roommate about an argument with the apartment manager that escalated into him “killing three people.”
While being arrested in Fuentes-Zambrano’s vehicle, he expressed his disdain for the American system during interrogation.
Biness claimed he had been trying for seven years to bring his wife and children from Ethiopia but faced continuous immigration challenges, which he believed contributed to his marital separation.
He mentioned feeling treated unfairly due, in part, to being an immigrant and black, stating that he lost everything important in his life, including family and business, grieved by the loss of peace of mind.
I mean, he even said he left his truck driving job due to stress, which is pretty heavy.
However, he refrained from discussing the specifics of the incident inside the leasing office.
Charged with second-degree murder, he has a court appearance scheduled for Wednesday. Each murder charge could bring up to 40 years in prison.
Meanwhile, tributes for the victims have been surging. Friends of Silcox described her as a person with a “vibrant spirit,” highlighting how much joy she brought to everyone around her.
“Her sudden and shocking death has left us all reeling,” they stated at a fundraiser.
“Dena’s children, who were her everything, are facing this unimaginable situation with courage and love.”
At a recent wake, Silcox’s father expressed pride in her talent as a pianist, while her brother mentioned her fiery personality. Conversely, Zambrano’s friend voiced that she deserved much more in life.
Ashley Chester, a resident of the complex, honored Will Warding, noting how beloved he was among the community.
“They were genuinely good people. Many residents have lived here for years, which speaks volumes,” Chester reflected on the victims and the attendees of the vigil.
“We are united in this, and it’s a bond that won’t break.”
