A disturbing incident in Colorado has led to the arrest of a 39-year-old man, Patrick Thomas Egan, who allegedly attacked a TV reporter of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) descent. The attack occurred on December 18 in Grand Junction, Colorado, after Egan reportedly stalked KKCO/KJCT reporter Ja’Ronn Alex’s vehicle for approximately 40 miles.
According to police, Egan’s actions were motivated by bias, and he is now facing charges for bias-motivated crimes, second-degree assault, and harassment. The incident began when Egan, driving a taxi, pulled up next to Alex at a stoplight and made a series of inflammatory comments. “Are you even a U.S. citizen?” Egan asked, before stating, “This is Trump’s America now! I’m a Marine and I took an oath to protect this country from people like you!”
The situation escalated when Egan tackled and choked Alex, but several bystanders intervened, restraining the suspect until officers arrived. The attack was caught on camera outside the television station, and Egan was subsequently transported to the Mesa County Detention Facility.
Alex, a native of Detroit, was driving a news vehicle at the time of the incident. He told police that he believed he was targeted because of his Pacific Islander heritage, according to the Associated Press.
Egan’s lawyer, Ruth Swift, has not yet commented on the incident. The case has sparked concerns about hate crimes and racism in the community, and highlights the importance of addressing bias-motivated violence.