(NationRise.com) – A protestor supporting Hamas during a demonstration near Los Angeles killed a senior Jewish man Monday after hitting him in the head with a bullhorn.
Paul Kessler, 65, was walking through a crowd of pro-Palestinian protestors while holding Israel’s flag. One of the protestors hit his head with a bullhorn, causing Kessler to fall and hit his head again.
A video posted to X (Twitter) shows Kessler lying on the ground shortly after the attack. He can be seen rubbing his head, indicating that he didn’t die immediately after. Two people, including a pro-Palestinian protestor, can be seen kneeling to help him. His death was ruled a homicide after an autopsy confirmed that blunt force against his head caused the death.
The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles noted that it was the fourth significant crime based on antisemitic hatred in the city this year. The incident occurred at a busy intersection in Thousand Oaks, a city west of Los Angeles.
A witness, 69-year-old Jonathan Oswaks, said the assailant stalked Kessler before attacking him. He also accused the attacker of putting his bullhorn to Osawak’s ear before the attack. Oswaks later claimed that he saw three men, including the killer, filming them before the attack.
No one has been charged in the attack, but the Ventura County Sheriff’s office announced that it has a suspect in the case. The suspect’s name has not been revealed, but he is described as a 50-year-old man from Moorpark. The incident is being investigated as a possible hate crime.
Michael Barclay, the rabbi of Temple Ner Simcha in Westlake Village, said that officials have told him they are receiving conflicting reports. He clarified that officials hadn’t found any video footage captured before the attack. Barclay also asked the public to avoid assumptions and allow police to do their job.
A memorial featuring Israeli flags, American flags, and flowers was set up in the area where Kessler died.
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