Posted on 02/04/2006 8:16:46 PM PST by raccoonradio
(CBS4) GASSVILLE, Ark. A teenager suspected of a hatchet and gun attack in a New Bedford, Mass. gay bar shot and killed a small-town police officer and the teen's female passenger before he was critically wounded in a gun battle with police Saturday, authorities said.
Jacob D. Robida, 18, was shot twice in the head and "it doesn't look good right now," said Bristol district attorney Paul Walsh Jr.
Walsh said the teen shot Officer Jim Sell, 56, twice with a 9 mm handgun during a traffic stop in this northern Arkansas town.
About 25 miles away, Robida sped his green Pontiac with Kentucky plates over spike strips set out by state troopers, but continued to drive with two punctured tires into downtown Norfork. Robida's car then careened into several parked vehicles to avoid a police barricade.
"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.
Walsh said the teen shot his female passenger before he was wounded in the shootout with police. West Virginia State Police Sgt. C.J. Ellyson identified the woman as Jennifer Rena Bailey, 33, of Charleston. Ellyson said Robida apparently had picked up Bailey at her residence in Charleston. "Apparently she's had a prior relationship with this guy and had been corresponding with him. Other than that, we're still in the dark about that," Ellyson said.
Robida was taken to a Springfield, Mo., hospital, according to state police spokesman Bill Sadler.
Police have sought Robida since early Thursday, when he allegedly attacked patrons of Puzzles Lounge in New Bedford, a seaport city of 94,000 people about 50 miles south of Boston. Police in Massachusetts have labeled the attack a hate crime and said Robida would be charged with attempted murder, assault and civil rights violations. In Arkansas, killing a police officer is a capital offense punishable by death.
Walsh conceded that Robida's fate is in the hands of Arkansas authorities now. "I can't imagine they'll be giving him up any time soon," he said.
New Bedford Mayor Scott W. Lang walked into Puzzles Lounge at about 7 p.m. Saturday to announce that Robida had been shot and apprehended in Arkansas.
Police stationed at Robida's mother's home in New Bedford on Saturday night kept reporters away.
"We were elated," said Bob Perry, 52, one of the victims, who was in Puzzles with about 10 other patrons. "This has been a very emotional time for us all. We're just glad it's over."
The assailant hit Perry in the face with a hatchet and shot him in the back. Doctors discharged him from a Boston hospital Friday with a black eye, a five-inch scar on his cheek, and a bullet hole just to the right of his spine.
Perry praised the efforts of police. "I'm saddened to hear that some people died," he said. The other victims remained hospitalized.
Robida's friends in Massachusetts struggled with the news.
They said he at times had glorified Nazism and bore a swastika tattoo, but had not previously expressed prejudice toward homosexuals.
"This is insane," said Heather Volton, 22, of Fall River, upon hearing the news. "That kid never so much as raised his voice at me."
The violent, hateful images and messages on Robida's Web site weren't sincere, a friend said. Robida's Internet home page was full of references to Insane Clown Posse, which is on the Psychopathic Records label. The company has a logo depicting the silhouette of a man wielding a hatchet.
"It's all fake," said Charlie, 15, of New Bedford, who would only give his first name out of fear that Robida's alleged victims would seek revenge. "It's just something to waste time with."
The Robida Charlie knew wasn't really violent.
"He wasn't in the right state of mind when this happened," Charlie said. "He's a good kid."
According to Arkansas investigators, Robida headed east on U.S. 62 after the Gassville shooting, then south on state Route 201 and east on state Route 321 toward Norfork. State police laid out spike strips that punctured two tires, but Robida continued on just the rims.
In downtown Norfork, police cordoned off two blocks of state Route 5 and Robida's car careened into several parked vehicles as he tried to avoid police.
"Then they came on down in here," Montgomery said, standing near police tape marking the scene. "When he wrecked he started firing at our officer and a state police officer and the officers returned fire."
Ruts made by the tire rims were visible in the pavement where the vehicle continued after the rubber burned off. No Norfork officers were injured.
One of the victims involved in the New Bedford attack was released from the hospital and told his story of survival to CBS4's Beth Germano and Sera Congi. The attack left Robert Perry with a hatchet scar on his face. A bullet shot through and out his back, just missing his spine.
"And when I turned around, there was this hatchet coming right for my face and it just came right into my face on the right side," Perry told Germano Thursday night. "And within -- I would say, no more than five seconds -- I heard a gunshot. I felt a sensation in my back. I smelled the gun powder, and I'm like, 'I think I've been hit.'"
The other two victims in the New Bedford attack remain hospitalized.
>>Kentucky plates
It was said he was driving the car he had fled with and had switched plates.`
Go to the CBS4Boston page to see a legal expert comment on the case. She feels he won't be remanded back to Mass.; it's a capital murder case in Ark. and he'll be tried there.
"Usually the jurisdiction that has the more serious crimes will get to try him first..."
Coverage from a local paper, the Baxter Bulletin
http://baxterbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060204/NEWS01/60204001
'..."it doesn't look good right now," said Bristol district attorney...'
I wonder how he means that.
The kid was shot in the head twice, probably wont survive
I'd like to skip the costs associated with a trial, but I admit to being morbidly curious. What would have possessed him to go into a gay bar with a hatchet and a pistol and start shooting at random?
"The kid was shot in the head twice, probably wont survive"
Yes, but does the district attorney think "it doesn't look good right now" because he probably won't survive or because he might survive?
I'll bet she didn't know what he'd been up too. Looks like she wanted out once she found out.
One report said the couple may have spent the night together in an Ark. motel. The Brass Door restaurant in Gassville has a motel as part of it.
When did she find out about the bar assault though? Maybe they were off to Vegas, or something. He did blow her head off. I think that was, because she wanted out.
Freaky, not to mention some of his friends left comments cheering him on.
Maybe he could not take anymore homosexuals forcing their life choice on us. Just like O.J., I don't condone what he did, but I understand it.
"The violent, hateful images and messages on Robida's Web site
Jacob Robida's MySpace.com profile page"
Any time I see someone with their face made up like ICP (Insane Clown Posse) I know it's some worthless loser. Anyone who would imitate those ex professional-wrestling little fairy-midget "rappers" has got serious problems.
"Maybe he could not take anymore homosexuals forcing their life choice on us. Just like O.J., I don't condone what he did, but I understand it."
Dude you cannot possibly be serious.
Yes Heather, it is insane (like a clown posse). Be thankful he never raised a hatchet to you.
My little brother used to listen to them and I just figured they were a joke rap duo whose fans were 12-14 year old boys. After looking into this story a little bit more I've discovered there is a whole subculture of "Juggalos" and "Juggalettes" obsessed with ICP.
I believe Robida is assuming room temperature as we speak.
Anyone who looks at his myspace profile sees someone who found total comfort and glory in embracing evil.
Same type of antisocial "support" group the Columbine shooters found.
His friends are still posting messages of support to their dead friend. Only a few have said just what a lowlife he was for doing these things.
He was a lowlife long before he killed anyone. And his ICP pals are talking trash about attacking those who trash his name. They are no better than the Islamonazis (really now, when it comes to multiple homicide). And these are not the first ICP idiots I've run across on myspace. Others have too.
These are antisocial types who buy into the myth and marketing. Just another tool.
Stupid internet poll junkie.
His profile had a line "Your murder weapon is... hatchet"
Yep. It is one thing to let someone throw their life away on bad music, drugs, and facepaint. It is another to be caught in the path as the dumbf*** is on his way down to total destruction.
Yep. Myspace makes it instantly easier to know who someone associates with (and maay seek hideout from when fleeing police).
Some communities already use it to ID taggers and other graffitti artists. AND that gets a backlash post now and then from myspace users.
Don't want to go down when someone goes nuclear? Disassociate yourself from that person.
It is a public forum even if elements of profiles can be restricted just to those you ID as friends.
Those who left comments wondered why the media was contacting them for interviews. Because they had insight into his mind. Anyone who would cheer on a fleeing murderer and laugh about "seeing you on the news" is a cold hearted person and operating on the shady side of the law.
ICP kids try to play that it is all harmles fun and pranks but this shows a darker side more in line with the outlaw culture of the Hell's Angels, Pagans, or Bandidos. Except with gay facepaint and cheesy white guy rap.
That is a stupid comment. If you can understand that then you need psychotic meds. I mean I don't think that it is necessary for all the craming down our throats the homosexual agenda, but I have never thought wow I hope someone kills them all or understand when someone does. That is just plan sick and hope that you were just posting quickly and did not read what you wrote.
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