LOS ANGELES — The Ventura County Sheriff’s Department in California is currently investigating the death of a Jewish man who sustained injuries during a clash at dueling pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian rallies. The incident occurred on Sunday in Thousand Oaks, a community near the Los Angeles area. According to witnesses, Paul Kessler, 69, was involved in a physical altercation with counter-protestors and fell backward, hitting his head on the ground. Kessler was immediately taken to the hospital but tragically passed away the following day.
The cause of death, as determined by the Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office, was a blunt force head injury, and the manner of death was classified as homicide. The sheriff’s department stated that the rally had conflicting pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian demonstrations happening simultaneously at Westlake and Thousand Oaks boulevards. Rabbi Michael Barclay of Temple Ner Simcha, situated near the incident’s location, urged patience and refrained from making assumptions or accusations until the police complete their investigation or reliable video evidence emerges.
Barclay publicly identified the victim, Kessler, as Jewish. However, Kessler’s family has declined to comment and is requesting privacy during this difficult time. The sheriff’s department has confirmed an active investigation into the incident and has not ruled out the potential involvement of a hate crime. Any individuals present at the rally or possessing information relevant to the case are encouraged to contact the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office.
While the Ventura County Sheriff Jim Fryhoff is scheduled to hold a news conference on Tuesday morning, no arrests have been made thus far. Responding to the tragedy, Hussam Ayloush, the executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations for the Los Angeles area, expressed deep sorrow and shock. Ayloush emphasized the importance of waiting for the sheriff’s office to conclude its investigation.
The unfortunate death occurred during a period of heightened tensions in various parts of the United States and beyond due to the ongoing war in Israel against the Hamas terror group. On October 7th, Hamas launched unprecedented attacks targeting civilians in Israel. For more details, this article was originally published on NBCNews.com.
