A person suspected in the death of a Jewish man during protests in California has called 911 to report the incident and cooperated with investigators at the scene, according to authorities. The suspect, who remains unnamed, has not been arrested yet. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office is urging the public to provide any video or photos that may shed light on what caused the victim, Paul Kessler, to fall and suffer head trauma during the dual pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian demonstrations in Thousand Oaks. The exact sequence of events leading to Kessler’s fall remains unclear.
Medical examiners have classified Kessler’s death as a homicide, attributing it to blunt force trauma to the head. However, authorities clarified that this classification indicates the involvement of another person but does not necessarily suggest a criminal act. The possibility of other individuals being involved in the incident has not been ruled out.
Sheriff Jim Fryhoff stated that Kessler was conscious and cooperated with investigators while being treated at the hospital, but he did not disclose the details of their conversation. Witnesses have provided conflicting accounts of who initiated the altercation leading to Kessler’s fall. The medical examiners’ office noted non-lethal injuries to the left side of Kessler’s face, suggesting he may have been struck before falling, although this is yet to be confirmed.
In light of Kessler’s death, law enforcement has increased patrols around mosques and synagogues. Recent acts of violence against Jews, Muslims, and Arab Americans have raised concerns among officials and civil rights groups. The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles identified the victim as a Jewish man and highlighted that this incident marks the fourth act of anti-Semitic violence in the area this year, with the second incident occurring just days earlier on October 7.
The protests in Thousand Oaks drew approximately 100 people from each side, and no other incidents were reported. Authorities did not observe any alarming situations before Kessler’s fall. Rabbi Noah Farkas, representing the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, claimed that a pro-Palestinian protester had struck the victim on the head with a megaphone, but this statement remains unconfirmed. The local chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations expressed grief over the incident and urged people to avoid jumping to conclusions or sensationalizing the tragedy for political purposes.
The investigation into Kessler’s death is ongoing, and law enforcement is relying on the public’s assistance in providing any additional evidence, such as videos or photos, to determine the circumstances leading to his fatal injury.
