An attack by a neo-Nazi teenager, accused of shooting two people and bludgeoning a third with a hatchet in a Massachusetts gay bar before fleeing, has stunned gays in the region and sparked fears that the assailant could strike again.
A manhunt was under way on Friday for an 18-year-old whom police say walked into Puzzles Lounge in the city of New Bedford late on Wednesday, ordered two drinks and then went on a rampage after asking a bartender "is this a gay bar?"
Jacob Robida faces about a dozen charges, including three counts of attempted murder and civil rights violations for the attack that left three men seriously wounded, police said.
"It's a vicious and ugly reminder of anti-gay prejudice," David Smith, head of policy and strategy at the Human Rights Campaign, a national gay rights group, said. "What is unique about hate crimes is that they terrorize the whole community."
When told he was in a gay bar, Robida walked into a back area where several men played pool, reached into his coat and pulled out a hatchet, police said.
He lunged at several men, striking two in the face with the hatchet before several of the bar's 18 patrons attempted to restrain him. He then drew a gun and began firing in the pink-walled venue, according to police and witnesses.
About 150 people, including New Bedford's mayor and several of the city's politicians, held a candlelight vigil late on Thursday on the street outside of the bar about 58 miles (93 km) south of Boston, the state's capital.
"We think he could strike again. We don't know what he will do, especially if he gets desperate," Paul Walsh, Bristol Dist. Attorney, told Reuters. "He's armed and extremely dangerous. We also cannot rule out that he could be suicidal."
Police across the Northeast U.S. coast are on alert for Robida, who was last seen by his mother when he returned home early on Thursday bleeding from a head wound and then leaving his house in a green Pontiac car, Walsh said.
NEO-NAZI LITERATURE
A search of Robida's bedroom turned up neo-Nazi literature and posters slurring gays, Jews and African-Americans, Walsh said. He also appears on a Web site posing with Nazi flags.
"I've had friends jumped before, but it wasn't with weapons and nothing on this scale," said Jeffrey Robbins, 33, a gay resident of New Bedford. He said his friends were concerned for their safety and feared a copy-cat attack.
"We're all just going to be more observant, walking each other to our cars with keys in our hands if we have to defend ourselves," he said.
Rep. Barney Frank (news, bio, voting record), a Massachusetts Democrat, called on Washington to pass a bill that would extend the federal law on hate crimes to cover offenses targeting people because of sexual orientation.
Massachusetts has hate crime laws that cover sexual orientation but 29 states do not.
"This tragic incident underlines the problem of anti-gay violence in this country," Frank, who is gay and whose district includes New Bedford, said in a statement. "I will continue to press for amendments to existing federal hate crimes laws to cover this sort of horrible crime."
The crime stunned residents in the blue-collar city.
"It's crazy that it happened in this day and age," said Craig Paiva, a 29-year-old New Bedford resident who lives two blocks from Robida's home. "You wonder how someone could hate a group of people so badly at the age of 18."
Every person, regardless of race, creed, religion or orientation is entitled to the basic right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness...basic human dignity.
But there will always be people out there who dont believe in human dignity for all.
What is sad to me is his age. I suspect he might be gay or have those feelings and is taking it out on others. If he is not, he will be treated badly in prison!
I always walk into a bar with a hatchet.... then ask if it's a gay bar , what would he have done if the bartender told him no ? hope the cops put a bullet in him . Save a lot of time and money.
I have been to New Bedford and It is just a great place to be. definately not like Boston but nice all the same.
This is a horrible crime and I do hope he gets punished for this.
I have to disagree with Ruby that he could be gay because of this. That is not always the case. most of the time it is what is depicted on TV or movies or just what people hear in general. people who are not brought up to respect each others differences and to be taught that not everyone is the same are the ones that never understand that wrong is wrong and what you are doing is not helping the situation.
Ignorance and Apathy. Sad, very sad. There are so many things in this world that people do, say and act that I don't agree with. But I do not understand the violent tendencies that people use and do. I just don't get it.
The thing that REALLY has me baffled about the whole situations is WHAT IN THE HELL IS AN 18 YEAR OLD DOING IN A BAR?? And he got served! That bar is in a WHOLE lotta trouble...
I am sure he knew it was a gay bar when he went in there Myndi. I mean he was armed and obviuosly ready to do somthing stupid. Is the drinking age 21 everywhere? It was 18 here when I first moved here?
The story gets worse too- he went on and killed a cop and a girl in his car. It appears that Thump is right- he is just a hater- the news said he was racist also But he might not live= so Dave's wish might come true.
By NOAH TRISTER, Associated Press Writer 7 minutes ago
The teenager suspected in a hatchet and gun attack inside a New England gay bar and in the killing of a policeman died Sunday after being wounded in a shootout with Arkansas officers. Authorities believe he also killed a woman he had picked up while driving through West Virginia.
Jacob D. Robida, 18, died at Cox-South Hospital in Springfield, Mo., hospital spokesman Randy Berger said.
Investigators said the high school dropout from New Bedford, Mass., had dabbled in Nazism, and police there said the attack that injured three men, one critically, at the Puzzles Lounge on Thursday was a hate crime.
New Bedford police said Sunday they were still trying to determine what motivated Robida and if he had any help.
"By no means is the investigation is over," said New Bedford police Capt. Richard Spirlet.
"I wish he would have lived and gone on trial," said Dan Sheterom, 51, who lives above Puzzles Lounge and frequents the tavern.
After the New Bedford attack, police say, Robida picked up 33-year-old Jennifer Rena Bailey at her home in Charleston, W.Va.
"Apparently she's had a prior relationship with this guy and had been corresponding with him," said West Virginia State Police Sgt. C.J. Ellyson.
Spirlet said New Bedford investigators had been in contact with West Virginia authorities even before Saturday's killings and gunfight in Arkansas, but he wouldn't give details. "That's part of the investigation," Spirlet said.
On Saturday, as Robida and Bailey drove through the northern Arkansas town of Gassville, Officer Jim Sell pulled them over in front of the Brass Door Motel and Restaurant for a traffic violation, investigators said. Robida killed the 56-year-old officer, State Police spokesman Bill Sadler said.
Motel manager Maryann Hoyne said she heard three shots, saw Sell on the ground and watched as Robida drove away, then circled the motel.
"What he was doing was retrieving his gun. He had dropped it at the side of the officer," Hoyne said. "He jumped out of the car, picked up the gun, got back in his car and sped off."
In downtown Norfork, 20 miles away, police set up a roadblock as Robida approached.
Spike strips set out by state troopers blew out two tires but Robida kept going, driving on the bare metal rims into Norfork, authorities said. The fugitive's car slammed into several parked vehicles to avoid the police barricade and spun 180 degrees to a stop.
"When he wrecked he started firing at our officer and a state police officer and the officers returned fire," said Baxter County Sheriff John Montgomery.
Police shot Robida twice in the head, said Bristol, Mass., District Attorney Paul Walsh Jr.
Bailey was found dead in the car. Walsh said Robida killed her but Sadler said ballistics tests would be needed to confirm how the woman died.
Police in New Bedford had sought Robida on charges of attempted murder, assault and civil rights charges. Had Robida survived the Arkansas shootout, he could have faced the death penalty in the police officer's death.
But he might not live= so Dave's wish might come true.
