GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX) - Thursday morning was a day of coming together, as roughly a dozen people gathered to support a member of the community.
Wendy Jones, a hearing attendee, states, “We are here this morning to support Ja'ronn, who was attacked for not looking like he's supposed to look, apparently, in the Grand Valley, and that's really not okay with us.”
Some local residents came together to support Ja'Ronn Alex, who was allegedly assaulted by 39-year-old Patrick Egan in December 2024 after Alex returned to Grand Junction from a drive to Delta.
According to the affidavit, at various points during the encounter, Egan asked Alex if he was an American citizen, demanded to see his ID and said "This is Trump's America now! I'm a Marine and took an oath to protect this country from people like you!"
One of the people holding signs told WesternSlopeNow he also served in the armed forces and shared his perspective on the alleged attacker.
Richard Hyland, a hearing attendee, states, “I think he's acting out what he calls a different kind of country, and a country where there are only certain people who are allowed to be and where diversity is basically a bad word.”
Residents say this unfortunate case is giving them an opportunity to show that they care about their community and will not accept any mistreatment of one to another.
Jones states, “But I think that we just want the people of this valley to understand that we are good people. And as things happen, we're going to show up and we're going to stand up for each other.”