Immigrant executed three workers at building he lived in after fight over parking spot: cops

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An Ethiopian immigrant has been accused of murdering three people in Minnesota after a dispute over a parking spot escalated. 

Tsegaab Binessu, 30, allegedly shot three people to death at about 4.10pm Monday in an apartment complex in St Paul, police said. All of the victims worked in the complex's leasing office. 

Binessu is accused of shooting two of the employees six times each as the crime was captured on surveillance cameras. The third employee was allegedly shot out of frame, but screams and four gunshots could allegedly be heard in the footage. 

The Saint Paul Police Department identified the victims as 25-year-old Nansi Fuentes Zambrano, 56-year-old Dena Silcox and 43-year-old Adam Wilwerding. 

Binessu was arrested at around 2am on Tuesday and charged with three counts of second-degree murder, according to Ramsey County Sheriff's Office jail records.

Binessu, a legal immigrant who moved to the US from Ethiopia at least seven years ago, told police that he had recently sold his car because he was planning to join the military. 

He had tried to cancel his garage parking contract and called the leasing office before visiting it in person, according to charging documents reviewed by FOX9.

Binessu admitted to police that he had gone to the office but did not say what happened inside. Staff said he was not able to change the contract, and it appears that an argument followed and escalated into the horrific violence, according to his charges.

The immigrant's second-degree murder charges said the killings were committed with intent but not premeditated. 

Binessu was arrested about 10 hours after he allegedly committed the triple homicide. Police located him in Virginia, Minnesota, about 100 miles away from the apartment complex. 

He had his US passport, Social Security card, permit to carry and an empty magazine with him at the time of the arrest, and he had been driving one of the victims' cars, according to police.

Residents of the apartment complex who knew the leasing office employees for years shared their grief in interviews with FOX9. 

'I was sad. Real sad. I lost a good friend. I'm planning to go to her funeral once I get some information,' one tenant told the outlet. 

'I'm still hurt by it. I'll be hurt by this for a while especially for Dena's sake because I'm gonna try to go to her funeral. That's the kind of love and respect we have for each other,' said another. 

The apartment complex's management company released a statement that said: 'Our hearts are broken for the family and friends of these team members, and our prayers are with them.' 

The Saint Paul Police Department said: 'Our thoughts are with the victims and their loved ones during this unimaginable time.'   

Binessu's first court appearance was on Wednesday, and his next court appearance is scheduled for August 13. 

Zambrano, one of Binessu's three alleged victims, was described as 'a big dreamer who worked tirelessly to accomplish her dreams' in a fundraiser for her family. 

She was also described as 'a beloved daughter, sister, aunt to three wonderful children, and devoted girlfriend.'

Silcox, another of the victims, was a mother whose 'vibrant spirit brought joy to everyone who knew her,' according to a GoFundMe to pay for her funeral. Her daughter will begin her senior year of college in the fall. 

Suzy Post, the sister of Wilwerding, the third victim, told CBS News Minnesota: 'He was [a] caring and amazing person inside and out. The best brother, best son, and best uncle.' 

It is unclear if Binessu has retained an attorney.