After St. Paul leasing-office triple murder, property managers push safety and faster evictions
Twin Cities property managers said Friday they are stepping up leasing-office safety measures and backing faster eviction tools after a triple homicide at a St. Paul apartment complex that left three leasing employees dead.[1]
Ramsey County prosecutors charged 30-year-old Tsegaab Ademassu Binessu with three counts of second-degree murder with intent in the killings, according to charging documents.[2] Prosecutors say the complaint ties the shootings to an argument over a $65-per-month parking garage contract that property managers would not cancel.[2] Surveillance video described in the complaint shows the suspect shooting three people in the Davern Park leasing office.[2] Police recovered 21 spent 9mm casings in the leasing office.[2] Officers say the suspect stole a victim's car to flee and was later located in St. Louis County with items including a passport and an empty magazine.[2]
Residents at Davern Park Apartments have left flowers and memorials and recalled leasing agent Dena Silcox as a close friend, while Mid Continent Management said its "hearts are broken" and thanked police for their response.[3]
Coverage later broadened to highlight the suspect's immigrant background and an alleged remark that he "hated the American system," a framing picked up and amplified by some conservative outlets online.[4] Property-industry leaders noted a new Minnesota law taking effect Aug. 1 that lets landlords speed evictions of tenants who assault property managers.[1] They said the killings are prompting talks about panic buttons and stronger leasing-office barriers.[1]
Industry executives warned the shootings could worsen hiring and retention problems in property management and said they hope safety changes and the new law will help protect onsite staff.[1]
Show source details & analysis (5 sources)
📌 Key Facts
- Ramsey County prosecutors charged Tsegaab Ademassu Binessu, 30, with three counts of second‑degree murder with intent on July 21, 2026 (Tsegaab Ademassu Binessu).
- The charging documents allege the killings stemmed from an argument over a $65‑per‑month parking garage contract that property managers would not cancel (charging documents).
- Surveillance video described in the complaint shows the suspect chambering a round, shooting Adam Wilwerding multiple times (including as he fell), then shooting leasing agent Dena Silcox six times and later shooting Nansi Fuentes Zambrano as she tried to escape (surveillance video).
- Police recovered 21 spent 9mm casings in the leasing office; officers say the suspect stole one victim’s car to flee and was later found in Virginia, Minnesota with a passport, Social Security card, a permit to carry, an empty magazine and the victim’s car (Virginia, Minnesota).
- A longtime roommate told police Binessu called and admitted 'killing three people'; reporting says he was located in St. Louis County with new camping gear after selling his car the same day (longtime roommate).
- Residents at Davern Park Apartments say they heard gunfire, saw a heavy police response and helicopters, and the complex is now covered in flowers and memorials as tenants share memories of leasing agent Dena Silcox (Davern Park Apartments).
- Mid Continent Management and its president Angie French issued statements saying their 'hearts are broken,' thanked St. Paul police for their response and expressed condolences to the victims’ families and friends (Angie French).
- Twin Cities property‑management leaders say the killings have prompted safety reviews (including discussions of panic buttons and stronger leasing‑office barriers), warned the murders could worsen hiring and retention, and noted a new Minnesota law effective Aug. 1, 2026 that allows faster eviction of any tenant who assaults a property manager (Minnesota law).
- AlphaNews highlights the suspect’s immigrant background and reports that he allegedly said he 'hated the American system,' a quote conservative figures and readers have used online to debate immigration and criminal‑justice issues (AlphaNews).
📰 Source Timeline (5)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Twin Cities property-management leaders say the Davern Park killings are prompting fresh safety reviews, including discussions of adding panic buttons and stronger physical barriers in leasing offices.
- Wellington Management and the Twin Cities Housing Alliance highlight a new Minnesota law, effective Aug. 1, that allows faster eviction of any tenant who assaults a property manager, not just other residents.
- Industry leaders, including the heads of The Doran Group and the Minnesota Multi Housing Association, warn the murders may worsen already difficult hiring and retention in property management.
- Mid Continent Management President Angie French issued a statement thanking St. Paul police for their response and calling the firm's hearts 'broken' for the victims' families and friends.
- AlphaNews reports that, according to charging documents and/or prior contacts, Tsegaab Ademassu Binessu allegedly said he "hated the American system" before the killings.
- The article emphasizes Binessu’s immigrant background and frames his discontent with U.S. institutions as part of the narrative surrounding the crime.
- AlphaNews gives added description of how conservative figures and readers are reacting online, using the quote to argue broader points about immigration and criminal justice.
- Residents at Davern Park Apartments describe hearing the gunfire, seeing a heavy police response and helicopters, and the complex now being covered in flowers and memorials for the three victims.
- Mid-Continent Management Corporation issued a public statement saying, "Our hearts are broken for the family and friends of these team members, and our prayers are with them."
- Tenants give personal recollections of the victims, particularly leasing agent Dena Silcox, describing close friendships and plans to attend her funeral.
- The article adds more detail on what police say was recovered with suspect Tsegaab Binessu in Virginia, Minnesota: his passport, Social Security card, permit to carry, an empty magazine, and one victim’s car.
- Court documents cited here elaborate on Binessu’s claimed personal backstory, including his inability to bring family from Ethiopia for seven years, a resulting divorce, and his feeling that he was targeted because he was Black and an immigrant.
- Ramsey County prosecutors charged Tsegaab Ademassu Binessu, 30, with three counts of second-degree murder with intent.
- Charging documents allege the killings stemmed from an argument over a $65-per-month parking garage contract that property managers would not cancel.
- Surveillance video described in the complaint shows Binessu chambering a round, shooting victim Adam Wilwerding multiple times including while he was falling, then shooting Dena Silcox six times and later shooting Nansi Fuentes Zambrano as she tried to escape through a window.
- Police recovered 21 spent 9mm casings in the leasing office and say Binessu stole one victim's car to flee after the shootings.
- A longtime roommate told police Binessu called and admitted "killing three people" after arguing with management; he was later found in St. Louis County with new camping gear after selling his own car that same day.