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A Jewish man died Monday after falling and striking his head following a confrontation over the weekend during competing pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian demonstrations in Thousand Oaks, authorities said.
At about 3:20 p.m. Sunday, deputies from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department responded to reports of a battery at the intersection of Westlake Boulevard and Thousand Oaks Boulevard, where both demonstrations were being held, authorities said.
The victim, identified as Paul Kessler, 69, from Thousand Oaks, was found suffering from a head injury after he fell backward and struck his head on the ground following a physical altercation with one or more counter-protesters, according to authorities and witness accounts.
The Ventura County Medical Examiner has ruled the man’s death as a homicide, with the cause of death being a blunt-force head injury.
“Witness accounts indicated that Kessler was involved in a physical altercation with counter-protestor(s). During the altercation, Kessler fell backwards and struck his head on the ground,” the department said.
The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles said Kessler was Jewish and that he was struck in the head by a megaphone held by a pro-Palestinian demonstrator. The sheriff’s department didn’t immediately confirm those details but planned a news conference Tuesday morning.
Rabbi Michael Barclay of Temple Ner Simcha in Westlake Village, near Thousand Oaks, urged people to avoid jumping to conclusions about what happened.
“I just got off the phone with the Chief of Police,” he posted on X, formerly Twitter. “They have conflicting reports of what happened, and they did interview the suspect that is identified in social media at the event. They have no video.”
He said police are being cautious before making accusations. “We need to do the same; and not let this become a spark that starts an inferno,” he wrote.
“Our thoughts are with the family and the Jewish community during this difficult time,” said CAIR-LA executive director Hussam Ayloush, who also urged people to wait for the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office to complete their investigation before drawing any conclusions.
“We are deeply saddened by this tragic and shocking loss. We join local Jewish leaders in calling on all individuals to refrain from jumping to conclusions, sensationalizing such a tragedy for political gains, or spreading rumors that could unnecessarily escalate tensions that are already at an all-time high,” Ayloush said in a statement.
Since the war between Israel and Hamas broke out last month protests have been held around the world. Hamas terrorists have been condemned for invading Israel and killing and kidnaping civilians while Israel has been accused of indiscriminate bombing that has killed many civilians in Gaza.
No additional information was immediately available. The investigation is ongoing.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Originally published at Mona Darwish