N. Nevada Indians talk about attack by skinheads
By Valerie Taliman, Indian Country
Johnny and Lisa Bonta, a Native family from the Reno Sparks Indian Colony, became the latest victims of a hate crime on May 24 when they were attacked at a gas station along I-80 in Fernley, a border town between the Fallon and Pyramid Lake Indian reservations.
“I was pumping gas at Quick Stop on our way to Reno to look for another job when these skinheads in a blue car drove by real slow and checked us out. The driver jumped out with a baseball bat, and I asked them ‘why you holding a bat?” said Bonta. “He said ‘let’s do this’ and tried to pick a fight. I don’t know how to explain what happened—we didn’t do anything to them.”
Bonta, a Paiute member of the Reno Sparks Indian Colony, tried to avoid the confrontation by telling them he didn’t want to fight. He got back in the car, with his son-in-law Shane Murray at the wheel, and they quickly drove away with the carload of skinheads in close pursuit.
As they approached the freeway ramp, they were cut off as the blue car swerved in front of them, then slammed on the brakes, causing Murray to crash into it. Murray said he recognized one of the attackers as Jacob Cassell, a former classmate and son of retired Lyon County Sheriff officer Jim Cassell.
“They all jumped out of the car with baseball bats, knives and a crowbar, and we knew they were going to hurt us,” said Lisa Bonta, in an interview from Washoe Medical Center, where she was in treatment for seizures she suffers.
This story reads surreal. Sort of like being in a time warp from the 40’s or 50’s in the deep south. If correct as written where are multiple civil rights organizations when you need them, not to mention what is the government doing to bring the perpetrators to justice?
The story is enough to make any decent person cry and wonder why some people are filled with such monstrous hate for hates sake.
Not from this area originally, but have been here long enough to recognize the name ‘Cassell’. FBI is investigating? Investigating a crime and bringing the guilty parties to justice are two different things. Investigate this crime, disregarding last names. “My daddy is a cop”…? Daddy must be proud. Law enforcement on every level, are you proud?
The extreme prejudice toward the American Indian is obscene. The existance of skinheads is obscene. In particular, disregarding justice for the Bonta family leaves a political stain on the State of Nevada. On a more personal level, on this 4th of July (ironic)the only fireworks I would like to see is a good, old fashioined skinhead hangin’. Seems more humane than what the Bonta’s had to endure.
I love how this article is soooo one sided. I also just love how people jump on the sob story of uneducated people crying wolf so they can get off of welfare by setting up pay pal accounts and bank accounts to get money. In turn spreading lies and slandering the whole family of said “skin heads” skin heads who also have Indians in their family and Hispanics. Also these Bontas spreading the lies have turned many people to send death threats to the family and the supposed “skin heads” over 100+ threats a day. The bontas also did not lose their car because of this fight, they got it towed because it was not registered or insured. Shane murray also threatened the supposed “skin heads” with a gun, that is when they got the heck out of quik stop, but no Murray couldn’t stop their he had to follow the white boys and ram the back of the car. The truth will come out and some people will not like the outcome. Bontas I hope you see this and that you stop spreading lies and creating death threats to these boys and their families.
Seethefacts….And the FACT that the racist attackers bragged about their exploits on Facebook and video from the Quick Stop support the Bonata’s account doesn’t matter. Exactly what facts are you seeing, that make you ignore Cassels online confession as well as video of the incident?
BGHS1986:
After being chased, having their car rammed into and having their window smashed in with a wrench, yes Jacob and Josh did fight back. They are 20 year old boys and when someone attacks them and they fight back they may feel a little hot headed. Josh posted something stupid pertaining to getting in a fight, which they did get into a fight after Bonta jumped them…
(Please don’t overlook that the officers on scene where not white, Cassell has a huge mixed family which none of them are racist at all… also there are actually neutral eye witnesses to this fight!!)
What’s really interesting is that you are saying that this ‘video’ backs up the Bonta’s.. hummmmmm… you must have seen it right???? (jacob and josh left the quik stop, bonta and murphy followed… bonta pursued the boys for almost an hour before the fight happened, if bonta was that scared of the boys way keep chasing them?? Who is the aggressor again??)
But hey, I am glad that you have decided who is right and wrong here…
Seethe FACTS:
Thank you for trying to state some truth here… I am having a hard time understanding how if 1 Native American man goes looking for trouble then finds it, can then claim Hate Crime??? I pray that truth will be brought to light soon!!
Jen Young