A 69-year-old Jewish man, Paul Kessler, was killed during pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian demonstrations in Thousand Oaks on Thursday, authorities have confirmed. Ventura County Sheriff’s Office received multiple calls around 3:20 p.m. reporting a battery at the intersection of Westlake and Thousand Oaks boulevards, where the demonstrations were taking place. When authorities arrived at the scene, they found Kessler with a head injury. He was rushed to a nearby hospital but sadly succumbed to his injuries. Witnesses stated that Kessler was involved in a physical altercation with counter-protesters, during which he fell backwards and hit his head on the ground.
The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles reported that Kessler was struck in the head by a megaphone wielded by a pro-Palestinian protester. A video posted on social media shows Kessler lying on the ground with a visible head injury, while two individuals, including a pro-Palestinian demonstrator, attempt to assist him.
The Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office conducted an autopsy and determined that Kessler’s cause of death was a blunt force head injury. They classified it as a homicide. This incident marks the fourth major anti-Semitic crime in Los Angeles this year, according to the Federation. They emphasized that violence against the Jewish community has no place in society and demanded safety, vowing to do everything in their power to prevent such acts.
Authorities have not yet announced any arrests in connection with the incident. The sheriff’s office is investigating the possibility that Kessler’s death was a hate crime and is urging witnesses or anyone present at the demonstration to come forward with information. Detective Stump can be reached at 805-384-4745, and anonymous tips can be submitted through Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, visit KTLA’s website.
