Wright County man arrested after attacking two people with hatchet

WRIGHT COUNTY, Mo. — A Wright County man is behind bars after authorities say he attacked two people with a hatchet.

The victims – who are black – told police they believed the attack was racially motivated, but it appears the original hate crime charge was dropped.

Jason Bailey is charged with two counts of first-degree assault in this case.

Bailey's fiancee said it was not a racially motivated attack.

“I hope everyone involved is held accountable.” This is in no way a racially motivated situation,” says Lesa Disney.

According to authorities, on June 4, Jason Bailey was involved in an altercation with two other people around midnight. Authorities arrived to find two victims with multiple ax wounds.

Bailey also suffered lacerations to the back of his head.

After speaking with the victims, Wright County deputies arrested Bailey and booked him into the Wright County Jail.

Prosecutors believe Bailey was the aggressor and the other people were acting in self-defense.

A neighbor who lives across the street from Bailey says the people who live in Grovespring all know each other and are generally nice to each other. He says situations like this should never happen.

“It’s a nice, laid-back town,” William Lander said. “If you want to retire, come here. It's really nice, it's easy to live with and you know, don't mess with people. People are already established and you better leave them alone, you know.

Bailey is being held without bail in the Wright County Jail and is scheduled to appear in court on June 24.