A pro-Palestinian supporter was shot Thursday evening after physically attacking a pro-Israel Iraq War veteran during a protest in Newton, Massachusetts.
The altercation unfolded when the attacker, who was wearing a Palestinian pin and had a surgical mask hanging from his neck, began shouting at a group of about ten pro-Israel demonstrators, as reported by the Daily Wire.
He hurled insults at the group, calling them “sick” and accusing them of “defending genocide.”
The demonstrators, including veterans and activists, were gathered to raise awareness about hostages held by the Iranian regime and to express support for Israel by waving American, Israeli, and Pahlavi Iranian flags.
Among the protesters was 47-year-old Iraq War veteran Scott Hayes, from Framingham, Massachusetts. Witnesses say Hayes was preparing to leave when the situation escalated.
The assailant crossed the street, cutting through traffic, and aggressively approached the group, showing his middle finger and shouting verbal abuse.
The situation quickly turned violent when the man charged at Hayes, who was holding an American flag, and tackled him to the ground. The two men began to fight as bystanders watched in shock.
In the midst of the scuffle, a gunshot was heard, leaving the attacker seriously injured. Video footage confirmed that the shot was fired while the two men were grappling on the ground.
At a press conference, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan confirmed that Hayes, who legally possessed the firearm, discharged the weapon during the physical altercation, striking the pro-Palestinian supporter in the stomach.
The attacker, whose identity has not yet been released, was taken to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries.
The incident has drawn attention due to the political nature of the protest and the violent turn it took. Video footage of the confrontation, obtained by the Daily Wire, has since circulated online.
BREAKING: Anti-Israel man shot in stomach after charging through traffic to tackle a man at a pro-Israel demonstration outside Boston in Newton, Massachusetts.
Footage obtained exclusively by @KassyAkiva: pic.twitter.com/nsGN3MQVAO
— Daily Wire (@realDailyWire) September 13, 2024
In another video, the man who fired the gun is seen providing medical care to the man who tackled him before first responders arrived. pic.twitter.com/wMtoowakr9
— Daily Wire (@realDailyWire) September 13, 2024
