Lounge patrons show relief, dismay, defiance

NEW BEDFORD -- Usually on Saturday nights at Puzzles Lounge, a DJ plays techno, hip-hop, and dance music. But not last night. At 6:30 p.m., New Bedford Mayor Scott W. Lang, acting police chief David Provencher, and three of his officers swept into the bar and made an announcement: Jacob Robida, wanted for the savage attack on three patrons last week, had been apprehended in Arkansas.

The dozen or so patrons inside Puzzles, including Robert Perry, who was hit in the face with a hatchet and shot in the back during the attack, let out an audible sigh of relief. Some embraced. But the celebration was tempered by the news that two people had been slain before Robida was shot twice in the head and rushed to a hospital in Missouri.

''It was more relief or being thankful," said Officer David Brown, who escorted the mayor to announce the news.

''Thank God," said former Puzzles employee Debbie Bissonnette, as she smoked outside the bar in the rain last night. ''I was hoping nobody else would get hurt."

Perry, 52, who was treated and released at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Friday, said as he walked about the bar that he was more confused than angry.

''I'm elated with the news," the Dartmouth resident, whose right cheek bore a scar from the hatchet blow. ''It was disbelief and inability to understand what happened here and what the reasons were."

There was also a note of defiance at the bar: Another patron, Steven DeTerra, said the real focus should be on Robida's three victims at Puzzles, two of whom remained hospitalized.

He praised Perry for coming back to Puzzles two days after Robida allegedly shot him in the back.

''We're not going to run, we're going to be here," DeTerra said. ''I hope he lives, I really do. Death is too easy."

A police car was parked across the street from the bar, and inside some sat at the bar alone clutching their beers in cups. One man played a game of pool by himself. As the night and the news of the apprehension of Robida spread, more patrons came. The music remained off.

Patrons, gay and straight, came to socialize and talk about their feelings about Robida's capture.

Phillip Daggett, 26, a bartender at Puzzles, said Robida had pointed a gun at his head during the attack.

Last night, he said he was relieved when he heard news of the capture.

''It's just been three nights that I haven't been able to sleep," said Daggett. ''I still look over my shoulders. Every noise I hear makes me jump. It's a relief. I'm glad they put a little closure to this and put an end to it. . . . I'm still concerned his circle of friends share the same animosity he has."

Steven Martin, 36, of Fall River, was sitting at the bar looking down at his beer. He said he had come to the bar for the first time in about three weeks.

''The reason I came here tonight was to pay my respects, to see if I could contribute somehow to the healing process," Martin said.

''It's made me angry, it's made me hurt. I'm outraged; I want something to be done about it. I'm glad he's caught."

When Daggett saw Martin, the two embraced.

''I think this may just be the beginning of whatever else is to come," Daggett said.

Scott Allen can be reached at allen@globe.com.