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Suspect in Bar Attack Dies After Shootout
By NOAH TRISTER
GASSVILLE, Ark. Feb 5, 2006 (AP)— 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.
By NOAH TRISTER
GASSVILLE, Ark. Feb 5, 2006 (AP)— 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.
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