69-Year-Old Jewish Man Dies After Altercation with Pro-Palestinian Demonstrator in California

LOS ANGELES (KTLA) – A tragic incident occurred on Monday in Thousand Oaks, a suburb northwest of Los Angeles, as a 69-year-old Jewish man, Paul Kessler, lost his life due to a severe head injury sustained during an altercation with a pro-Palestinian demonstrator. The incident took place amidst ongoing demonstrations involving pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian groups, leading to heightened tensions in the area.

Ventura County Sheriff’s Office received several distress calls at approximately 3:20 p.m., reporting a “battery” at an intersection. Upon arrival, deputies discovered Kessler with a head injury and promptly transported him to a nearby hospital. Unfortunately, Kessler succumbed to his injuries later that day.

Witnesses at the scene indicated that Kessler was engaged in a physical altercation with counter-protesters, during which he fell backward and struck his head on the ground, according to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office. However, the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles claimed that Kessler was struck in the head by a megaphone wielded by a pro-Palestinian protester. A video circulating on social media depicts Kessler lying on the ground, while two individuals, including a pro-Palestinian demonstrator, attempt to assist him.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles expressed their deep concern over the incident, highlighting that this marks the fourth major anti-Semitic crime committed in Los Angeles this year alone. They emphasized that violence against their community has no place in a civilized society, demanding safety and vowing to take all necessary measures to prevent such acts of violence.

Following an examination by the Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office, it was determined that Kessler’s cause of death was a blunt force head injury. The manner of death was classified as a homicide, as stated in the official press release.

Rabbi Michael Barclay of Temple Ner Simcha, located in Westlake Village near Thousand Oaks, urged people to exercise caution before jumping to conclusions regarding the incident. He shared that conflicting reports about what transpired have been received, and the suspect identified on social media has been interviewed by the police. However, no video evidence is currently available.

Law enforcement officials have not announced any arrests in connection with the incident. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office is treating the case as a possible hate crime and is actively investigating the matter. They have emphasized that this appears to be an isolated incident and is not part of a larger organized effort.

Protests have been erupting worldwide since the outbreak of the conflict between Israel and Hamas last month. Thousands of deaths have been reported, with Hamas militants facing condemnation for their invasion of Israel and the killing and kidnapping of civilians. Israel, on the other hand, has been accused of indiscriminate bombing resulting in the loss of numerous civilian lives in Gaza.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.