California Authorities Seek Public Assistance in Investigating Death of Jewish Man Amid Israel-Hamas War Protests

Southern California investigators are seeking assistance from the public as they examine contradictory testimonies regarding the circumstances surrounding the death of a 69-year-old Jewish man in Thousand Oaks on Sunday. The man, identified as Paul Kessler, tragically suffered a fatal head injury during simultaneous Israel-Hamas war protests. According to Ventura County Sheriff Jim Fryhoff, Kessler was involved in a confrontation with a pro-Palestinian protester prior to his fall, though the precise cause of the fall remains uncertain.

The sheriff mentioned that Kessler was participating in the demonstrations, specifically those supporting Israel. These demonstrations have appeared in numerous cities throughout the United States, either in favor of Israel or as a protest against its response to the October 7 Hamas attacks, which resulted in the death of over 1,400 individuals.

Israel initiated a military operation leading to the death of over 10,000 individuals in Gaza, as reported by the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Ramallah, citing sources from the Hamas-controlled enclave.

Upon the arrival of sheriff's deputies at the scene just before 3:30 p.m. on Monday, Kessler was still conscious and responsive. He was subsequently taken to a hospital, where he was classified as being in critical condition. Unfortunately, he passed away overnight due to his injuries, according to Young.

Paul Kessler

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Jewish man dies from head injury following interaction with pro-Palestinian demonstrator in California, authorities say

The death of Kessler is under investigation as a potential homicide, and authorities are considering the possibility of a hate crime involvement, according to the sheriff. During the incident, a 50-year-old suspect engaged in a confrontation with Kessler, as stated by the sheriff. At the scene, the suspect cooperated with investigators and provided an interview. He informed authorities that he was one of the individuals who called 911 to request medical assistance for Kessler.

The suspect, who remains unidentified, was apprehended later on Monday afternoon during a search of his residence conducted by the sheriffs office, stated Fryhoff. Following the completion of the search, he was released without being charged or arrested.

While Kessler's cause of death has been determined as a homicide, Dr. Christopher Young, the chief medical examiner for Ventura County, clarified on Tuesday that this medical classification does not automatically imply that a crime has been committed.

Simply put, it means that someone else caused the death or played a role in the death," Young explained. He added that the district attorney's office will decide if the homicide calls for legal action.

In the midst of escalating concerns about hate-driven assaults on Jews, Muslims, and Palestinians in the US during the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, leaders from both the Jewish and Muslim communities have expressed sorrow for the tragic incident and denounced violence.

In response to the incident, the sheriffs office has increased patrols around both Muslim and Jewish houses of worship and community centers, Fryhoff said.

What we know about the altercation

Around 75 to 100 individuals congregated for the Sunday protests, which took place at an intersection in Thousand Oaks. The two groups involved were referred to as "Freedom for Palestine" and "We are Pro-Israel," according to Fryhoff.

Prior to Kessler's tragic accident, no instances of violence had occurred throughout the series of almost twenty protests that have been organized throughout the county since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, as stated by the sheriff.

The sheriffs office received several calls regarding a potential assault linked to the ongoing protests at the intersection, stated Fryhoff. Within minutes, deputies and medical responders reached the location to find Kessler conscious and responsive, lying on the ground, as confirmed by the sheriff.

Kessler is seen lying on his back on the sidewalk in a video, with blood on his face and the ground. In the video, a woman wearing a Palestinian flag and a man are shown leaning over him, attempting to provide assistance. However, the footage does not capture the confrontation that resulted in Kessler's injuries.

This photo, taken Sunday, shows Paul Kessler holding an Israeli flag at the intersection where the altercation would later take place.

Authorities said that a pro-Palestinian protester engaged in a confrontation with Kessler, resulting in him falling backwards and striking his head on the ground.

According to the sheriff, investigators spoke to witnesses at the scene who either supported Israel or Palestine. Their accounts of the aggressor and the details of the altercation conflicted with each other. The sheriff mentioned that Kessler received medical assistance from the responders of Ventura County Fire Department and was transported to a hospital, where his condition was listed as critical.

The individual's health worsened until they were declared deceased shortly after 1 a.m., as stated by the medical examiner.

After conducting an autopsy, the cause of Kessler's death was identified as blunt force head trauma, as confirmed by the medical examiner.

The autopsy findings by Young indicated that Kessler had sustained injuries aligning with a fall, such as skull fractures, brain swelling and bruising, along with non-fatal injuries to his face.

Community leaders denounce violence

Local government officials, Jewish and Muslim community leaders, are urging the community to have patience while authorities investigate the incident and denounce violence amidst escalating tensions related to the war between Israel and Hamas.

In a statement issued on Monday, the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles expressed its deep sorrow for Kessler's loss and extended its condolences to his family. The federation's leaders are currently awaiting further details about his death from law enforcement.

The federation strongly condemns violence targeting the Jewish community, emphasizing that it has no place in a civilized society. The federation pledges to take all necessary measures to prevent such acts and ensure the safety of its members.

Rabbi Michael Barclay, from the nearby Temple Ner Simcha in Westlake Villages, has reached out to both the Thousand Oaks police chief and the Ventura County sheriff, advising individuals to patiently await the findings of the investigation.

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Barclay, expressing his trust in these highly capable individuals, emphasized the utmost importance of allowing them to carry out their duties effectively. He emphasized the need to prevent any unnecessary escalation while underscoring the urgency of preventing a repeat of past atrocities.

Please share any recordings of the incident with investigators, as urged by the rabbi.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations' Greater Los Angeles Area office expressed profound sorrow and disbelief regarding this heartbreaking and astonishing tragedy.

The council issued a statement on Monday, urging individuals to avoid making hasty judgments, exploiting the tragedy for political purposes, or spreading rumors that may further exacerbate the already heightened tensions.

The statement further emphasized that while political discourse is important, CAIR-LA and the Muslim community align themselves with the Jewish community in denouncing all forms of violence, antisemitism, Islamophobia, and instigation of hatred.

CNNs Dakin Andone, Taylor Romine, Nouran Salahieh, Jillian Sykes, Stephanie Elam and Jason Kravarik contributed to this report.