69-Year-Old Man Dies After Altercation at Pro-Palestinian and Pro-Israeli Demonstrations in California

Paul Kessler’s Death Ruled Homicide

By Taylor Romine, CNN

Published on [Date]

A 69-year-old man, identified as Paul Kessler, tragically lost his life on Sunday in Thousand Oaks, California, during an altercation at a demonstration supporting both Palestinians and Israelis. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office has ruled his death as a homicide.

According to witnesses, Kessler was involved in a physical altercation with at least one counter-protester while pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian rallies were taking place in the same area. The sheriff’s office stated that during the altercation, Kessler fell backwards and struck his head on the ground, causing a fatal head injury.

The demonstrations in Thousand Oaks, located just under 40 miles from downtown Los Angeles, are part of a wave of protests that have erupted across the United States. These protests are in response to Israel’s intense retaliation following the October 7th Hamas attacks, which resulted in the deaths of more than 1,400 people, including civilians and soldiers.

Tragically, the death toll in Gaza has exceeded 10,000 since Israel launched its military offensive a month ago, as reported by the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Ramallah. Israeli airstrikes have targeted various locations, including schools, refugee camps, and ambulances.

Kessler was discovered by deputies with a head injury on Sunday afternoon and was immediately transported to a nearby hospital. Sadly, he succumbed to his injuries the following day. The autopsy report confirmed that the cause of death was a blunt force head injury, leading to the conclusion of homicide.

No suspect has been identified in connection with the case, and the circumstances leading up to the altercation remain unclear. The sheriff’s office has not ruled out the possibility of a hate crime and is currently conducting an active and ongoing investigation.

The sheriff’s office described Kessler as a “pro-Israeli protester,” but further details have not been disclosed. CNN has reached out to the sheriff’s office for additional information.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles expressed their condolences, stating, “Our hearts are with the family of the victim.”

Rabbi Michael Barclay of Temple Ner Simcha, a local Westlake Village temple, has been in contact with law enforcement regarding Kessler’s tragic death. He is advising community members to await the results of the investigation. Barclay emphasized the importance of allowing the authorities to carry out their duties while encouraging anyone with video footage of the incident to come forward and share it with the police.

Barclay also revealed that the location where the altercation occurred often hosts demonstrations, and he has been cautioning his congregation to avoid the area when such events are planned. He has received reports of issues with counter-protesters and anti-Semitic hate speech.

CNN has made inquiries to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office regarding any previous incidents at the location of the altercation.