Jarrett Buba, 52, who was charged with felony aggravated assault for attacking two Jewish students with a glass bottle at the University of Pittsburgh, now faces additional charges for a separate attack the day before. In the earlier incident, Buba allegedly threw a glass bottle at two people affiliated with Carnegie Mellon University.
Details of the University of Pittsburgh Attack
The first incident took place on August 30, near the University of Pittsburgh’s iconic Cathedral of Learning. Buba is accused of assaulting two Jewish students, both wearing traditional yarmulkes, by striking them with a glass bottle from behind. The students sustained injuries, including cuts to their faces and necks, and were treated at the scene. University police reported that Buba, who is not affiliated with the school, was wearing a kaffiyeh, a symbol often associated with solidarity with the Palestinian people.
In response, university officials condemned the attack as “appalling” and reached out to Jewish community organizations, including the Hillel University Center and the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh. The FBI’s Pittsburgh field office also joined the investigation, exploring the possibility of a hate crime.
New Charges for Earlier Carnegie Mellon Incident
Just a day before the Pitt assault, on August 29, Buba allegedly targeted two individuals connected to Carnegie Mellon University in the Oakland neighborhood. According to the police complaint, Buba threw a glass bottle that struck a vehicle near the individuals. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. Authorities initially did not disclose why the individuals were targeted.
After reviewing security footage and using Buba’s arrest photo from the Pitt incident, Carnegie Mellon police identified him as the suspect in the earlier bottle-throwing case. New charges, including attempted aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, and harassment, were filed against Buba.
Legal Proceedings and Ongoing Investigations
Buba now faces multiple charges related to both incidents, including felony aggravated assault, simple assault, reckless endangerment, resisting arrest, and harassment. The cases have raised concerns about potential hate crimes, given the religious attire of the victims at the University of Pittsburgh.
At this time, court documents do not list an attorney for Buba, and attempts to reach him have been unsuccessful.
