A Marine veteran and former tram driver at Mt. San Antonio College faces charges for hitting and killing an ex-coworker with a car on campus.
James Milliken, 38, was arrested on suspicion of murder on Thursday, the same day the victim was hit, Sheriff’s Lt. Patricia Thomas said. Investigators are still working out the possible motive. She didn’t release his city of residence.
The victim, identified by the coroner’s office as 63-year-old Rafael Barragan Jr., died of sharp and blunt force injuries, according to the coroner’s office. Mt. SAC officials identified him as Ralph Barragan from Pomona.
Both Milliken and Barragan worked as tram drivers for disabled students at the college located at 1100 N. Grand Ave. in Walnut.
“James was a former college employee, working as a part-time driver for the ACCESS department from October 2016 until he resigned in September 2021. Out of respect for Ralph and his family, as well as to support the criminal investigation, we are unable to share additional details,” Bill Scroggins, Mt. San Antonio College’s president, said.
“Losing Ralph has been heartbreaking for our campus community. The circumstances of his passing are additionally painful,” Scroggins said. “Many of you may have strong feelings regarding the tragedy. We want to assure you that we are doing all things possible to provide support and assistance at this time.”
A memorial to Barragan will be set up Dec. 5 at the west end of the Student Services Center, he said.
Milliken also had attended the college as a student. He first enrolled the summer of 2010 and last attended spring of 2018. He was in good academic standing, said Jill Dolan, spokeswoman for the college.
Milliken was born in 1984 in Blytheville, Arkansas and joined the Marine Corps after high school graduation, according to his biography on the college website. He served in Iraq in mid-2004 and 2005 and received awards.
“I was part of the main effort in November 2004 during Operation Al Fajr, the retaking of the city of Fallujah. Before the assault commenced, the operation was known as Operation Phantom Fury,” he wrote. “3rd Battalion, 1st Marines was part of the composition of RCT 1. RCT 1 was partly responsible for clearing the infamous Jolan District, among others. Alongside RCT 7, four Marine battalions (including 1/3, 1/8, and 3/5) and various US Army units reclaimed the city of Fallujah from unrest.”
At the the time the biography was written, he was attending the University of La Verne for a bachelor’s degree in sociology.
Milliken remained in custody Friday at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in Los Angeles on a $2 million bail.
