Man accused of attempting to carjack KPRC2 van in court

HOUSTON – A man was in court Wednesday after several felony charges were filed against him filed against him in connection with the incident that happened on his 29th birthday.

Alex Allen Jenkins was charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, two counts of assaulting a peace officer and aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon.

During his court appearance, Jenkins explained to the judge that he targeted the news van because he was low on gas in the stolen Malibu and could use the video equipment in the KPRC2 van to get his message out.

There was no clarification as to what that message might be.

The judge ruled there was probable cause on all four charges. All four cases are going to go to Judge Robert Johnson in the 177th district court.

Jenkins will be held without bond on the aggravated robbery charge, $10,000 bond on the unauthorized use of a vehicle and $100,000 on each of the counts of assaulting a police officer.

Jenkins will not be able to post bond unless Johnson decides to change the bond ruling on the aggravated robbery charge.

Police said Jenkins stole a car Monday morning before heading to downtown Houston. Jenkins is then accused of slamming that car into a KPRC News van and then trying to carjack photojournalist Damon Sales and anchor Sophia Ojeda.

“He's like, 'Get out of the vehicle. Get out of the vehicle.' I'm (paraphrasing). He had some pretty choice words,” Sales said.

Police said Jenkins then assaulted two officers who came to Sales and Ojeda's aid, before taking off in their patrol car with a juvenile suspect in the back.

The juvenile suspect was quickly released and the police car was later found abandoned near the University of Houston. Jenkins was arrested a few hours later.

VIDEO: Carjacking suspect in court


About the Author:

Daniela Sternitzky-Di Napoli has been a digital news editor at KPRC 2 since 2018. She is a published poet and has background in creative writing and journalism. Daniela has covered events like Hurricane Harvey and the Astros World Series win. In her spare time, Daniela is an avid reader and loves to spend time with her two miniature dachshunds.