NEW BEDFORD, Mass. -- New Bedford police are searching for a man they say burst into a gay bar early Thursday morning and attacked several patrons with a hatchet and a handgun.

NewsCenter 5's Jack Harper reported that at least three people were wounded in the attack that police have labeled a hate crime. The attack happened at Puzzle's Lounge at 426 North Front St. at about midnight.

"I know it is premeditated because he went in there with a 9 mm gun, he went in there with a machete with a 12-inch blade and he went in there with a hatchet," bartender Phillip said.

Phillip, who asked to be identified only by his first name while the attacker is at large, said the man came into the bar, ordered a drink, and then asked if it was a gay bar.

"He shot at the person that he initially attacked with the hatchet first and ended up striking him in the face. And then went back toward the person who tried to intervene with the fight and shot him twice in the head. And there was a younger gentleman coming from the bathroom, and the younger gentleman who was coming from out of the bathroom didn't even know what was going on at that time. He ended up taking a bullet wound into his chest -- it went in one end and out the other," Phillip said.

A woman at the bar recognized the alleged attacker, Jacob D. Robida, 18, of New Bedford, as a man with whom she went to high school. He is described as 5 foot 6 inches tall, about 200 pounds with dark hair. He was last seen driving a green 1999 Pontiac Trans Am with Massachusetts plates 85E-C58.

Police searched Robida's room at 613 County St., and found evidence that the man was enthralled with Hitler and hate. According to Robida's mother, he returned home at 1 a.m. Thursday and was bleeding from the head.

"Our main focus right now is to get the individual who did this. That is what we're focusing on. We just want to get that individual. We feel he is a threat, a definite threat, out there," New Bedford police Capt. Richard Spirlet said.

Police also said graffiti found on the building resembled writing found in Robida's room.

"Upon opening the door to the suspect's bedroom, we observed Nazi regalia as well as anti-Semitic writings on the wall," police said in an affidavit.

"I know the police are out there right now attempting to apprehend this individual. And I think the message from our community is that this is not the kind of conduct that will ever be tolerated in New Bedford," Mayor Scott Lange said.

"There will be a whole canopy of crimes here. We are starting at the top with assault with intent to murder -- times three, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, multiple times. We are looking at the possibility that the motivation behind this is because of someone's sexual orientation, hence certain hate crimes would kick in," Bristol County District Attorney Paul Walsh said.

Two of the three victims remained in critical condition at a local hospital Thursday evening.

The Massachusetts Gay and Lesbian Political Caucus released a statement Thursday that read, "Unfortunately, we're not terribly surprised. You can't live in an environment so regularly bombarded with anti-gay rhetoric and not expect something like this to happen."

Sen. John Kerry released a statement about the attack Thursday that read, in part, "This tragedy must be a serious wake-up call to anyone who pretends hate crimes don't exist in America. Anyone who ever doubted that bigotry is still with us should think about the fact that just after midnight last night, a man walked into a bar and attacked people with a hatchet, then opened fire with a handgun. He wanted to kill them for being who they are. That's a hate crime, and that's un-American."

"Violent crime has no place in a civil society. A hate crime deserves special attention because the suspect plans the attack and targets his victims based on hatred, bias, or prejudice. Thankfully District Attorney Walsh has developed a strong a civil rights division to investigate and prosecute this case," state Sen. Jarrett T. Barrios, of Cambridge, said in a statement Thursday.

The Anti-Defamation League praised the quick response by the New Bedford police and added, "This type of violent crime is rare in the New England area; however, all hate crimes are significant because of the impact they have on the entire community."

Anyone with information should contact the New Bedford police detective division at (508) 991-6320 or the anonymous tip line at (508) 961-4584.