Man Accused of Killing 3 Apartment Staffers Said He 'Hated the American System'

A migrant accused of fatally shooting three employees at an apartment complex in St. Paul, Minnesota, told investigators he "hated the American system" that had prevented him from bringing his wife and children to the United States from Ethiopia.

Tsegaab Binessu, 40, was arrested Monday in Virginia, Minnesota, approximately 200 miles north of the apartment complex where the killings occurred. He is accused of murdering Nansi Fuentes Zambrano, 25, Dena Silcox, 56, and Adam Wilwerding, 43, according to a criminal complaint obtained by the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

The victims were all staff members at the apartment complex where Binessu was reportedly in a dispute over his $65-a-month parking garage contract. Binessu allegedly told police that his attempts to bring his family to the U.S. over several years were unsuccessful, leading to his divorce and separation from his children. He stated that he quit his job as a truck driver due to the stress of the situation.

According to the complaint, Binessu also claimed that apartment management repeatedly blamed issues on "the system" rather than offering assistance. He reportedly expressed a belief that he was treated unfairly due to his race and immigrant status.

Binessu's roommate indicated that they had been living together for eight years, though it is unclear how long Binessu had been in the country.

Authorities allege that Binessu called the leasing office Monday night to cancel his parking garage contract. When an employee told him he was still obligated to pay and that the situation was unchangeable due to "the system," Binessu became enraged. He then allegedly went to the leasing office and fatally shot Wilwerding, the community manager, six times. Silcox, the assistant manager, who had worked at the office for nearly a decade, was reportedly shot five times after attempting to intervene.

Fuentes Zambrano was found deceased in a back room of the office, having apparently attempted to escape through a window before being shot in the head. Investigators recovered 21 shell casings from the scene.

Following the incident, Binessu allegedly called his roommate and confessed to arguing with apartment management and subsequently killing three people.

Upon his arrest, Binessu was found with newly purchased camping gear, his U.S. passport, his Social Security card, an empty handgun magazine, and a permit to carry a weapon.

Binessu has been charged with second-degree murder and faces up to 40 years in prison for each count if convicted. His first court appearance was scheduled for Wednesday.