On Thursday, a man was shot and suffered life-threatening injuries in Newton, Massachusetts, after tackling a pro-Israel protester.
Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan said at a Thursday night press conference that the incident happened Thursday around 6:40 p.m.
Ryan said a small group of pro-Israel protesters were on one side of the road while a man, whose identity has not been released, was walking on the other side of the road and began exchanging words with the protesters.
Mr Ryan said “a number of words were exchanged” and the incident then escalated when the individual crossed the road and “jumped on one of the protesters”.
“A scuffle ensued,” Ryan said, adding that a person crossing the road during the clashes “was shot by a member of the protesters.”
The individual sustained serious, life-threatening injuries and is being treated at a local hospital.
Authorities on Thursday identified the gunman as Scott Hayes, 47, of Framingham. The Middlesex District Attorney’s Office announced Thursday evening that Hayes had been arrested and charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and violation of constitutional rights resulting in bodily injury.
He was scheduled to be arraigned Friday.
Asked at a press conference whether the man who was shot was anti-Israel or pro-Palestinian, Ryan said: “It’s too early to say that,” according to NBC News.
A video of the incident posted online shows a person across the street accusing the Israeli protesters of “defending genocide”, to which a pro-Israel protester responded by calling the person “very stupid”.
After an exchange of words and an argument across the street, the man is seen running towards the protesters, tackling and launching himself at one of the pro-Israel protesters.
The video shows Hayes and the man he jumped on the ground, and at one point two other men join in and begin stomping and kicking the man as he runs across the road.
During the scuffle, a pro-Israel protester appeared to pull out a gun and fired, hitting the man in the abdomen, after which a protester attempted to help the man he had just shot and called 911.
A witness to the incident told NBC Boston it was “disturbing” to see what happened and said he hopes everyone is safe.
The Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston released a statement about the incident.
“While the details of what happened are still under investigation, there can be no question that any violence is abhorrent in our democratic society,” the statement said. “The right of citizens to assemble in nonviolent public demonstrations must be sacrosanct.”
The statement urged patience as the investigation gets underway and encouraged Newton Mayor RuthAnn Fuller and District Attorney Ryan to continue to “communicate fully with the public and the community regarding the investigation and the basis for any charges that have been filed, as well as any additional charges that may be filed.”
“Regardless of the motive or role in initiating the violent acts, we pray for a full recovery for the individual injured last night,” the group added.
Newton Acting Police Chief George McMains said police would be conducting additional patrols at “places of worship” over the next few days, according to the Associated Press.
Mayor Fuller also reportedly called the shooting a “horrific incident” and said the investigation is ongoing.
Rep. Jacob Auchincloss, who represents Massachusetts’ 4th Congressional District, said in a post on X on Thursday that “violence in political debate is never acceptable,” thanked authorities for their “swift response,” and said he looked forward to a “thorough investigation of this incident.”