A man who told police that he “woke up and smoked weed and just felt like killing someone” and then allegedly injured a 74-year-old jogger with his SUV in Colorado Springs pleaded not guilty Wednesday to attempted murder.

“Thank you,” Christian Ortega said to 4th Judicial District Judge Eric Bentley after entering his plea. They were the only words uttered by the defendant.

Ortega, 34, was arrested May 12, 2025, at the scene of the wreck: Cheyenne Boulevard and May Street near Stratton Open Space.

Eyewitnesses told police that they saw the vehicle swerve directly into the jogger. Afterward, the driver stayed on scene, laughing and smoking marijuana, according to the Colorado Springs Police Department.

The jogger suffered serious injuries and was taken to a hospital.

Court documents state that Ortega admitted to officers that he hit the jogger, The Gazette previously reported. The defendant allegedly told police that he smoked marijuana before and after the collision, and that “I was actually trying to hit him.”

According to court documents, officers spoke with Ortega later in the day when he “felt sober.” In that second interview, Ortega reportedly told officers that he had been unemployed for several months, living out of his vehicle and had become increasingly angry about his situation. He allegedly told officers that he fantasized about killing someone for several months before the incident.

After entering his plea, Ortega was returned to the El Paso County jail, where he was being held on a $502,000 bond for two cases, records show.

Ortega pleaded not guilty to all of his charges, which include attempted first-degree murder, first-degree assault against an at-risk person and driving under the influence. He is accused of criminal mischief in his second El Paso County case, to which he also pleaded not guilty.

Ortega is set for trial on July 13 for both cases. His more serious case is expected to take at least a week.