On what began as a typical Monday afternoon in Saint Paul, Minnesota, the lives of three individuals were tragically cut short in a dispute over a parking space. Adam J. Wilwerding, a 43-year-old man from Oakdale, was among those killed on July 20, 2026, inside the leasing office of the Davern Park Apartments. The incident, which also claimed the lives of 56-year-old Dena M. Silcox of St. Paul and 25-year-old Nansi G. Fuentes Zambrano of Inver Grove Heights, unfolded after a resident became enraged over his inability to cancel a $65-a-month parking contract. The three victims, all employees of the apartment complex, were remembered by friends and family for their kindness and dedication. Wilwerding's sister described him as a caring and loyal person who was deeply loved by his family and friends.
The suspect in the triple homicide was quickly identified as 30-year-old Tsegaab Ademassu Binessu, a resident of the Davern Park Apartments. According to court documents, Binessu had recently sold his car and wanted to terminate his parking agreement. When he was informed that the contract could not be canceled, he allegedly became violent. Surveillance footage from the leasing office reportedly captured the horrific events as they transpired. The video allegedly shows Binessu pulling out a handgun and shooting Wilwerding and Silcox multiple times. Screams were heard before more gunshots rang out, believed to be the shots that killed Zambrano, who was found in a back area of the office. In total, police recovered 21 9mm bullet casings from the scene.
Following the shooting, Binessu fled the scene in one of the victim's cars. His escape was short-lived, however, as he was apprehended by St. Louis County sheriff's deputies later that same night in Virginia, Minnesota, nearly 200 miles north of St. Paul. Inside the vehicle, authorities discovered newly purchased camping gear, his passport, and a permit to carry a firearm. Binessu reportedly confessed to the killings to his roommate, who then contacted the police. He was subsequently charged with three counts of second-degree murder. During his initial court appearance, his bail was set at $10 million. The case against Tsegaab Ademassu Binessu is a grim reminder of how a seemingly minor disagreement can escalate into a senseless act of violence, leaving a community to mourn the loss of three of its members.
