A pro-Israel protester in Massachusetts has been charged after prosecutors said he shot a man wearing a Palestinian flag badge who ran across the street in traffic and accosted the defendant Thursday during a heated dispute over the Gaza war in which the man accused protesters of “advocating genocide” and called them “sick.”
Scott Hayes, 47, of Framingham, has been charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, as well as violation of a constitutional right causing injury, after shooting his attacker in the stomach as they struggled on the ground in Newton around 6:40 p.m., Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan said at a late-night news conference.
Hayes fired his gun after the man walked straight from across the street, tackled Hayes and threw him to the ground before grabbing him by the neck on a sidewalk, the video shows.
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Scott Hayes with a gun in his hand struggling with the man, on the left, and the attacker, on the right. (Daily Journal)
After the shooting, two other pro-Israeli protesters could be seen stomping on the pro-Palestinian supporter, who has not been identified, and then dragging him out of Hayes.
In another video posted online, Hayes can be seen rendering aid to the man seconds after the shooting and telling a bystander to call 911. The shooting victim suffered life-threatening injuries and was being treated at a local hospital, according to Ryan.
The incident unfolded as Hayes and a group of other Israel supporters were protesting at the intersection of Washington Street and Harvard Street, which is about seven miles west of Boston. Newton, a city of about 90,000, has a large Jewish population.
“There was a small group of people, pro-Israeli protesters, demonstrating on one side of the street. There was an individual, seemingly completely random, walking on the other side of the street,” Ryan said. “Words were exchanged back and forth on the other side of the street.”
The man, left, running toward Scott Hayes, the man holding Hayes in a headlock, center, and pro-Israel protesters attempt to pull the attacker away from Hayes. (Daily Journal)
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“You're sick, you're sick,” the man, wearing a purple T-shirt and shorts with a mask around his neck, is heard saying, according to video footage.
“Are we sick?” a woman can be heard clapping and laughing.
“Yes, you are defending genocide,” the man shouts.
Then, in the next clip, the man can be seen running across a busy crosswalk in the middle of traffic and lunging at Hayes.
“Eventually, that individual crossed the street very quickly and attacked one of the protesters,” Ryan said.
VIDEO: Pro-Israel protester charged after shooting attacker in apparent self-defense
“A fight broke out in the street and at one point Mr. Hayes used a gun and fired one shot that hit the individual who had crossed the street.”
Ryan said Hayes is the legal owner of the firearm.
A GoFundMe page has been launched to support Hayes, and the fundraiser has already raised more than $55,000.
The page states that Hayes is an Iraq War veteran and, although not Jewish, has been participating in demonstrations throughout Boston in defense of the Jewish people and their right to self-determination and government.
Hayes is expected to be arraigned Friday in Newton District Court.
Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan speaks. (Executive Vice President)
Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller called it a “frightening incident” and urged patience as investigators looked into what happened.
“Let the Newton police do their job and get the facts straight,” Fuller said. “We are in the early stages of an active investigation.”
Meanwhile, Newton Interim Police Chief George McMains asked the public with information or video of the incident to come forward.
He also said additional police will patrol places of worship in the coming days.
An Israeli flag at the site of the shooting. (Executive Vice President)
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