A Colorado man claiming to be a Marine allegedly assaulted a TV news reporter, demanding to know if he was a U.S. citizen and declaring, “This is Trump’s America now,” before attempting to strangle him, according to police.
During the alleged attack on KKCO/KJCT reporter Ja’Ronn Alex in Grand Junction on Dec. 18, Patrick Egan reportedly shouted, “I’m a Marine, and I took an oath to protect this country from people like you!” This statement, along with the incident details, was documented in Egan’s arrest affidavit obtained by the Associated Press and local media outlets.
Egan also allegedly questioned Alex, asking, “Are you even a U.S. citizen?” before making his controversial remark about “Trump’s America.”
Charges Filed
Egan, 39, now faces felony charges, including bias-motivated crimes and second-degree assault by strangulation. He is also charged with misdemeanor harassment by following and ethnic intimidation. As of Saturday, the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Egan had posted bond and was eligible for release.
Incident Details
At the time of the alleged assault, Egan was working as a taxi driver for Sunshine Rides. Police claim he followed Alex for approximately 40 miles to his workplace at the joint NBC and ABC news station in Grand Junction, where Alex serves as a multimedia journalist. Once there, Egan reportedly tackled and choked Alex before co-workers intervened to restrain him and assist the reporter.
Alex, who is of Pacific Islander descent, told police he believed the attack was racially motivated. A portion of the assault was reportedly captured on surveillance footage.
Company Response
Sunshine Rides General Manager Kelly Millan condemned the incident in a statement to KKCO, expressing deep regret for the harm caused. “This type of behavior has no place in our society, and I strongly condemn it,” Millan said. The company has suspended Egan pending a full investigation and pledged to cooperate with law enforcement while reinforcing its core values with staff.
Reporter’s Background
Alex, originally from Detroit, Michigan, graduated from Clemson University in 2023. According to his KKCO bio, he has lived in several locations across the Eastern and Southern U.S.
Upcoming Court Date
Egan is scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 2 for the filing of his charges.