A Jewish man who sustained injuries during a confrontation at dueling pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian rallies in Ventura County, California, has tragically passed away, as confirmed by the local sheriff’s department.
The victim, identified as 69-year-old Paul Kessler, was involved in a physical altercation with counter-protesters, according to witnesses and the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department. During the altercation, Kessler fell backward and struck his head on the ground.
This incident occurred around 3:20 p.m. on a Sunday in Thousand Oaks, a community located just over the Ventura County line in the Los Angeles area. Kessler was immediately taken to a hospital but, unfortunately, succumbed to his injuries on the following Monday.
The Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office determined that Kessler’s cause of death was a blunt force head injury, classifying it as a homicide.
At the time of the incident, pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian rallies were taking place concurrently at Westlake and Thousand Oaks boulevards, according to the sheriff’s department.
Rabbi Michael Barclay of Temple Ner Simcha, near the site of the confrontation, emphasized the importance of patience during this difficult time and urged against making assumptions or accusations until the police complete their investigation.
Kessler’s family declined to comment and requested privacy.
The Ventura County Sheriff’s Department is actively investigating the incident and has not ruled out the possibility of a hate crime. They are seeking information from anyone who attended the demonstration or may have information about the incident.
Tensions have been running high in various parts of the United States and elsewhere due to the conflict between Israel and the terror group Hamas, which conducted unprecedented attacks against civilians in Israel.
Ventura County Sheriff Jim Fryhoff is expected to hold a news conference on the matter on Tuesday morning. As of Monday night, no arrests had been made, according to the sheriff’s department.
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Hussam Ayloush, the executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations for the Los Angeles area, expressed deep sadness over the loss and encouraged everyone to await the completion of the sheriff’s office’s investigation.