Eighteen-year-old Jacob Robida, accused of attacking and wounding three men in a gay bar in Massachusetts, was seriously wounded in a gun fight with the police yesterday, authorities said.
He, however, shot dead his 33-year-old passenger Jennifer Rena Bailey and a 56-year-old Gassville police officer Jim Sell before being shot and nabbed. “He's in critical condition and it doesn't look very well for him right now,” said Paul Walsh, Bristol County's district attorney.
The gun battle began after a 16-mile car chase, after the teenager shot dead Sell when he was stopped for a routine traffic check in Gassville. “He opened fire on a police officer, killing the officer and then took off,” Walsh said.
Robida was then chased by state troopers to Norfork, Arkansas, where he was involved in a car accident due to driving with tires that had been punctured by the spikes laid out by state troopers. Once cornered, Robida shot Bailey dead and started firing at the troopers. “When he wrecked, he started firing at our officer and a state police officer, and the officers returned fire,” Baxter County Sheriff John Montgomery said. The teen took two bullets in his head and was arrested and taken to Cox South Hospital in Springfield, Montana.
Even though authorities assert that the woman was shot by Robida, investigations would be carried out to establish the exact cause of her death. “Apparently, she's had a prior relationship with this guy and had been corresponding with him," said police sergeant C J Ellyson.
Meanwhile, patrons of Puzzles Lounge, the gay bar where the attack took place, were relieved that the attacker was caught but expressed apprehension that he might have supporters who may come back for revenge. Bartender Tom MacNeil said emotions were running high at the bar when the police announced that Robida had been nabbed. “It was emotional . . . there was hugging. Hopefully we can put it behind us. Hopefully the legal system will do its job,” he said.
“It is pressure off my chest but I am still remaining in fear. He has a circle of friends on the Web and they all support him,” said Phillip Daggett, a Puzzles bartender who was present when the attack on the three men took place. Robida had pulled a gun over Daggett and pulled the trigger but the gun did not fire. “It's just been three nights that I haven't been able to sleep. I still look over my shoulders. Every noise I hear makes me jump. It's a relief,” Daggett said.
A search of Robida's house revealed neo-Nazi paraphernalia and hate posters directed towards certain ethnic groups and homosexuals. “I'm just very happy this story has come to an end because the feeling around here was that Robida would not go down easy,” said 52-year-old Robert Perry, one of Robida's victims. Twenty-nine-year-old Alex Taylor and 22-year-old Luis Rosado were the other two who were wounded and are still in hospital. “Right now I'd like him to be able to regain consciousness and answer some questions,” Perry said.
Robida, who is a graduate of New Bedford's junior police academy, which works towards building social skills and self-esteem among 12- to 14-year-olds, faces three counts of attempted murder, civil rights violation and assault. Neighbors say that the high school dropout was known be a neo-Nazi but had not seem dangerous. “This is insane. That kid never so much as raised his voice at me ... This is all pretty much a shock to me, like everyone else,” said 22-year-old Heather Volton of Fall River who was acquainted with Robida.
