LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: New details have emerged in a recent incident involving former Navy SEAL Robert O'Neill and security guard Johnny Loomis, raising questions about an alleged altercation and the use of a racial slur.
The incident occurred at The Omni Hotel in Frisco, Texas, where O'Neill was staying during a visit. Loomis, the victim, has now been identified as a white man.
Johnny Loomis' allegations
The security guard on duty, Johnny Loomis, 61, accused O'Neill of assaulting him and using a racial slur during a dispute. According to Loomis, O'Neill struck him on the chest with his right palm and used a racial slur.
Loomis stated, "O'Neill made the disparaging remarks and slugged me after passing out at the hotel bar on Aug. 23."
In the official documents from the Frisco Police Department, Loomis is identified as a white man. The documents asserted that the incident unfolded after he assisted O'Neill, who appeared to be intoxicated, back to his room on the fifth floor. Loomis mentioned, "O'Neill struck me on the chest with his right palm."
The situation escalated when O'Neill purportedly used a racial slur, referring to Loomis with a derogatory term. Loomis claimed, "Then the former special ops called me a f*****g n****r.'"
Loomis managed to break free from O'Neill's grip and promptly requested the hotel to call 911. He stated, "Johnny stated he had a heart surgery scheduled soon."
Upon police arrival, Loomis was evaluated by medical personnel and released. Photographs of Loomis' chest, bearing red marks from the alleged incident, were taken as evidence.
During a jail interview, O'Neill's demeanor appeared to shift. “[He] stated he was disappointed in himself, and stated it was his fault he was under arrest and that he can be an a*****e,” the officer who interviewed O’Neill wrote.
But while he acknowledged his own behavior and expressed disappointment in himself, he denied assaulting the security guard or using a racial slur. "Robert stated he did not palm strike Johnny because he does not strike people; he stated he would have choked Johnny," the officer added.
O'Neill labeled Loomis' claims as a potential money-grab and joked, "[He] should have robbed a high-end store because he would have gotten away with that."
Robert O'Neill denies using racial slur
O'Neill vehemently denied using any racist language in the incident, emphasizing his extensive service in the military and his experiences alongside individuals of diverse backgrounds.
“I have honorably and proudly served my country for half my life in battles all over the world, standing shoulder to shoulder with men of all races, religions and sexual orientations,” O’Neill told the New York Post.
“The color of one’s skin doesn’t matter when your life is on the line. The idea that I would use a racial slur against anyone is so preposterous, so beyond offensive to not only myself but all of my brothers who have served and fought with me; I deny it in the strongest terms," he added.
Notably, the hotel's hallway where the alleged incident occurred lacked surveillance cameras, making it challenging to independently verify the claims made by both parties.
O'Neill, who gained prominence for claiming responsibility for firing the shots that killed Osama bin Laden in 2011, authored a memoir titled 'The Operator' in 2017, recounting his experiences. However, the United States government has never officially confirmed or denied the details of his account.
This recent incident led to O'Neill's arrest, with charges including a Class A misdemeanor for assault causing bodily injury and a Class C misdemeanor for public intoxication. He has since been released on bond.
The incident marks the latest legal issue for O'Neill, who was arrested for drunk driving in 2016 in Montana (charges later dropped) and was banned by Delta Airlines in 2020 for refusing to wear a mask on a flight.
