Man injured at Thousand Oaks protest dies; Ventura County Sheriff's Office investigates
Ventura County Sheriff’s officials said they're investigating as a homicide the death of a 69-year-old man injured Sunday afternoon during an altercation at a Thousand Oaks protest regarding the war between Israel and Hamas.
Sheriff’s officials identified the man as Paul Kessler. They said the Medical Examiner's Office concluded after an autopsy he died of a blunt force injury and described the manner of death as homicide. They said they have not ruled out the possibility of a hate crime.
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They also said the altercation appeared to be an isolated incident.
Authorities said the incident happened at simultaneous demonstrations in support of Israel and Palestine at the intersection of Thousand Oaks and Westlake boulevards. It was reported to law enforcement at about 3:20 p.m.
They said witnesses said Kessler, a Jewish man, was involved in a physical altercation with what they called counter-protesters.
“At some point during the altercation, he fell back and struck his head,” said Sheriff’s Capt. Dean Worthy, adding Kessler was rushed to the hospital. He died Monday.
Sheriff Jim Fryhoff said no arrests had been made as of 5:30 p.m. Monday. Fryhoff characterized the investigation as active and said his agency was seeking the community's help to provide videos or information about the incident.
Sheriff’s officials asked anyone who witnessed the incident or who was at the demonstration to call 805-384-4745. People can remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).
Those who wish to share video or pictures of the incident can do so and can remain anonymous by using the following link: https://venturasheriffca.evidence.com/axon/community-request/public/23-142110.
"We respect people's right to be able to protest," Fryhoff said. "We ask anyone who protests to protest peacefully."
Agoura Hills resident Lu Johnson said he drove through the intersection twice Sunday, first at 3:08 p.m. and on his return at 3:28 p.m., citing a lifestyle app he uses for his family. He and his son went to grab boba drinks when they saw the protesters.
On their first pass, Johnson said they saw a man standing by himself on the corner near the Shell gas station and holding a flag of Israel. On two other corners they saw demonstrators in support of Palestine. After getting their beverages, Johnson and his son drove past the intersection and saw Kessler on the ground.
"We were shock. We saw that man on his back bleeding," Johnson said.
They parked in a nearby shopping center and watched what unfolded. Johnson said he also saw a man with a megaphone yelling.
By this point, sheriff's deputies and other emergency personnel arrived. Deputies appeared to be interviewing witnesses but not intervening with the guy on the megaphone, he said.
"I saw this go on and on over the next few minutes," Johnson said. He wondered why deputies let the man continue.
More details may come out at a news conference set by the sheriff's office at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Thousand Oaks.
Dan Meisel, regional director for the Anti-Defamation League in Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, said there have been instances of violence at various protests and counter-protests, including an assault last week against a Jewish student at the University of Massachusetts Amherst during a pro-Israel demonstration, but he said this is the first death that the ADL is aware of.
“This is the most tragic incident to occur in the U.S. since Oct. 7 in connection with Israel’s war against Hamas,” Meisel said. “It’s a painful reminder that words matter and the inciteful rhetoric we’re seeing in these demonstrations can and does inspire and incite violence.”
Meisel said he wasn’t in Thousand Oaks for this demonstration, but he has witnessed other pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel demonstrations at the same street corner.
“I wasn’t there that weekend but I have seen, at that intersection, signs comparing Israel to the Nazi regime. There was a swastika on a sign next to an Israeli flag, that’s an example of deeply offensive rhetoric. At other protests we’ve seen signs calling for the destruction of Israel, ‘from the river to the sea,’ and signs calling Hamas’ attacks on Israeli civilians ‘justified resistance.’”
Omar Ricci, spokesman for the Islamic Center of California in Los Angeles, said he didn’t know about the Thousand Oaks death but said he condemned any acts of violence.
“There should be no room for any violence here on the home front,” he said. “We can’t allow that to spill over.”
Rabbi Aryeh Lang, of Chabad of Camarillo, said he had heard about the incident but knew little detail.
Since the attacks on Israel, Lang had received an outpouring of support. He encouraged people to spread love, light and charity when faced with evil and darkness.
"This is a time for all decent people in this world to come together," he said.
This story may be updated.