Teen styled self on ‘Matrix’

OAKLYN, N.J. (AP) — Matthew Lovett was known as an angry young man: He dressed all in black, drew violent pictures and walked around town with a baseball bat. Acquaintances said he kept a list of people who had teased him as far back as grade school.

Mr. Lovett, 18, was arrested Sunday with two other teenagers on charges including conspiracy to kill three teens and open fire randomly on other people with a cache of guns and ammunition they were carrying. Mr. Lovett was being held in lieu of $1 million bail yesterday.

Authorities would not discuss a motive, but people who knew the teens believe Mr. Lovett was fed up with the teasing he and his younger brother had endured. James Lovett was constantly ridiculed for a speech impediment caused by a cleft palate, according to schoolmates.

“They’d all make fun of the way he talked,” said Joe Oldham, a 14-year-old who had a class with the younger boy.

But he said he never saw the elder brother teased to his face because he was intimidating — and he was sometimes armed with a bat. Oaklyn teenagers also say Mr. Lovett practiced martial arts and had compiled a list of his enemies since elementary school.

Authorities would not confirm the existence of a list, but Camden County Prosecutor Vincent P. Sarubbi said three persons believed to be intended victims were notified Sunday of the plot.

People who know the teen say Mr. Lovett not only liked the movie “The Matrix” but dressed the part, often wearing all-black clothing and slicking back his hair.

He sometimes referred to himself as the Mystic, the One or Neo in homage to Keanu Reeves’ character in the “Matrix” films — high-tech thrillers where the real world is merely a facade for a darker, grimmer world where a computer hacker leads humanity in a revolt against machines that have taken over the world.

“He wouldn’t even talk,” said Chris Brown, who graduated last month from Collingswood High School, as did Mr. Lovett. “He was just by himself.”

The three teens were arrested after attempting a carjacking in this Philadelphia suburb, authorities said. They had several guns belonging to Mr. Lovett’s father, including rifles, a shotgun, several handguns, swords and 2,000 rounds of ammunition.

Ron Lovett issued a statement through a family member yesterday apologizing for his son’s behavior.

“I’d like to apologize to the town and the people of Oaklyn for what my son has done,” said Mr. Lovett, a single father since his wife died nearly 10 years ago. “I’d like to ask everyone to say a prayer for Matthew. I hope he can receive the counseling he needs.”

Craig Mitnick, an attorney for Matthew Lovett, told CNN yesterday that his client said he “never, ever was going hurt anyone.” Mr. Mitnick said the rounds of ammunition that police found were more than 20 years old and might not have detonated.