Ryan Egelston, 28, was arrested after a violent incident at Washington Park in Denver on Sunday, where he allegedly became enraged over a dispute about a park bench. According to a Denver Police Department arrest affidavit, Egelston spat at a man who asked to share the bench with him, then punched him and shot his bicycle tire when the man attempted to walk away. Egelston believed the man was a pedophile and acted out of anger, police said. Less than a minute later, Egelston shot a second victim from behind, hitting him in the jaw and neck without any prior altercation.
The victim was taken to the hospital and is expected to survive. Egelston fled the scene on foot and later took off in his car, but police apprehended him after a brief chase. Officers discovered a Glock handgun in the front seat of his vehicle. The shooting left parkgoers stunned and traumatized, as many had been enjoying a warm Sunday afternoon at the popular park. The incident was unsettling for both victims and witnesses who never expected such violence in the peaceful surroundings of Wash Park.
Egelston’s background, revealed through social media posts, paints a picture of a man who was vocal about his faith. He posted regularly about Christianity, with one Facebook post in August 2024 showing what he called “a vision of heaven” that he claimed was given to him by God. He also created a blog where he described himself as a “man of faith, people lover, reader, entrepreneur, speaker, rising author, listener, joy enthusiast, and hustler.” Egelston had his first court appearance on Monday and remains in custody on a $1 million bond. He has not yet been formally charged, and authorities are investigating his mental state and the factors leading to the outburst.
