CARRINGTON, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Charges against a man who struck and killed an 18 year-old with his vehicle in McHenry have been upgraded to murder, a class AA Felony.

In a release, Foster County State’s Attorney Kara Brinster requested the dismissal of the previous charges of Criminal Vehicular Homicide and Duty in Accident Involving Death of Injury and filed new charges in the case.

Following interviews with individuals in the case and an autopsy of Cayler Ellingson at the University of North Dakota Forensic Pathology Center, the new charges were filed by the Foster County State’s Attorney.

The maximum penalty for a AA Felony is life imprisonment without parole.

“This is still an ongoing investigation and if any persons have additional information regarding the defendant Shannon Brandt or death of Cayler Ellingson, please contact the Foster County Sheriff’s Department,” Brinster says in the release.

Brandt is accused of striking and killing Ellingson in the early morning hours of Sept. 18 following a street dance in McHenry.