A 69-year-old Jewish man died Monday after falling and hitting his head during an altercation with pro-Palestinian protesters in California, according to authorities.
Paul Kessler succumbed to injuries sustained at mourning protests Sunday in Thousand Oaks and authorities are investigating his death as a possible hate crime, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office said.
Kessler, an Israel supporter, was involved in a fight with pro-Palestinian protesters around 3:20 p.m. when he suffered a head injury during the confrontation, authorities and family friends said.
An autopsy performed Monday determined Kessler’s manner of death was a homicide and the cause of death was a blunt force injury to the head, the sheriff’s office said.
The Los Angeles Times reported that Kessler was hit in the head before being knocked down, citing officers. When contacted by The Post Monday night, a sheriff’s spokesperson would neither confirm nor deny what led to the fall.
The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles said in a statement Kessler was hit with a megaphone, but authorities did not address that claim Monday.
Moshe Bryski, a local Chabad of Agoura Hills rabbi, told The Post that Kessler’s death was “simply a tragedy.”
Kessler’s wife was “in a state of total shock” when he called her this morning, he said. Kessler was a counter-protester at a pro-Palestinian demonstration, he said.
Paul Kessler succumbed to injuries sustained at Sunday’s mourning demonstrations in Thousand Oaks. Israeli support fell and he hit his head during an altercation with pro-Palestinian protesters.
“People are not expected to go to a rally and not come home,” Bryski said.
No arrests were announced in Monday’s news release from the sheriff’s office. Ventura County Sheriff Jim Fryhoff will hold a press conference Tuesday at 10 a.m. local time where more information could be revealed.
Images circulating on social media of the alleged incident show a man lying on the ground with an apparent head injury as two people, including a woman wearing a jacket emblazoned with “Free Palestine,” come to his aid.
A friend of Kessler’s family, Justin Cohen, told The Post on Monday night that the rally Kessler attended was the second he attended since the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel on October 7.
The investigation is ongoing and no arrests have been announced.
Cohen, a 38-year-old lawyer, said he was “shocked and devastated” by the sudden death.
“I had never met him with a minimum of violence in my entire life,” Cohen said of Kessler.
“He was not a closet Zionist; he wore it like a badge of honor,” Cohen also said. “He was a proud Jew and a proud supporter of Israel.”
Michael Barclay, a local rabbi who has been in contact with police, told The Post that authorities were still looking for images that witnesses could provide to shed light on the incident.
Barclay said investigators interviewed a man allegedly involved in the altercation.
Ventura County Supervisor Jeff Gorell said in a statement that he was “heartbroken” by the death.
“I am heartbroken to learn of the tragic death of an elderly man today after he was beaten during a protest in my district,” he said. aware in X.
“My prayers are with this man’s family and friends. Our entire community mourns this senseless loss of life. I call for peace in our community.”
Categories: Trending
Source: vtt.edu.vn