Pittsburgh man arrested in connection with attack on Jewish Pitt students

Two Jewish students who attend the University of Pittsburgh were attacked Friday night in what authorities are investigating as a possible hate crime.

Jarrett Buba, 52, of Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood is charged with two felony counts of aggravated assault and two misdemeanor counts of simple assault and reckless endangerment. He also faces a charge of resisting arrest and two summary charges of harassment.

One of the students who was attacked told police he and another student, both wearing Jewish yarmulkes, were walking outside near the Cathedral of Learning just before 6 p.m. Friday when he had made eye contact with Buba, who was sitting at a table across Forbes Avenue, a criminal complaint filed in the case said.

The students continued walking. Moments later, according to the complaint, Buba attacked both from behind.

The students told police Buba had attacked them with a glass bottle. One of the students was bleeding and had several cuts on his neck.

One of the students tackled Buba and detained him until officers arrived, the complaint said.

Buba was wearing a red sweatshirt and a keffiyeh, a garment commonly associated with support for Palestine, the complaint said.

Officers arrested Buba after a brief struggle, the complaint said. Police said Buba also gave authorities a series of false names before properly identifying himself.

Surveillance footage supported the students’ account of the attack, according to the complaint. While preparing a witness statement, one of the students was taken to the hospital to be checked for a possible concussion. He was released a few hours later.

The FBI’s Pittsburgh office is investigating the attack as a possible hate crime, the complaint said.

In a statement, Pitt officials said the incident was “appalling.”

“To be clear: Neither acts of violence nor antisemitism will be tolerated,” Pitt’s statement read. “Local and federal partners are supporting Pitt Police in this ongoing investigation.”

Pitt leadership reached out to Hillel University Center to offer support to students and also connected with the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh.

University officials said Buba has no known affiliation with Pitt.

Buba was denied bail and is being held in the Allegheny County Jail in Pittsburgh.