A pro-Israel demonstrator has been charged after he allegedly shot a man who tackled him at a Massachusetts demonstration in support of the Jewish state.
A small group of pro-Israeli demonstrators were gathered on one side of a street in Newton, Mass., on Thursday evening when an individual wearing a pro-Palestinian pin, “apparently completely randomly walking down the other side of the street,” exchanged words with the pro-Israel demonstrators, according to Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan said.
The man with the pro-Palestinian pin can be seen on video calling the pro-Israel group “sick” and accusing them of “defending genocide” before he runs across the street through traffic and tackles 47-year-old pro-Israel demonstrator Scott Hayes. The man knocked Hayes to the ground and grabbed him around the neck as the pair struggled on the sidewalk.
During the fight, Hayes, who is reportedly an Iraq War veteran, allegedly pulled out his firearm and shot his attacker in the stomach.
Video of the incident shows two other pro-Israel demonstrators stomping on the man after he was shot and then pulling him off Hayes. Afterwards, Hayes was seen administering aid to the man and instructing a bystander to call 911.
The shooting victim suffered life-threatening injuries and was being treated at a local hospital, Ryan told reporters.
Hayes has been charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon; and violation of a constitutional right causing injury.
Hayes legally owns the firearm he used in the shooting, according to Ryan.
A GoFundMe page in support of Hayes has already collected more than $100,000. The page says that Hayes is not Jewish, but has been participating in pro-Israel demonstrations across Boston.
Newton, a city of 90,000 people located less than 10 miles outside of Boston, has a large Jewish population.