World News | California Authorities Arrest Man in Death of Jewish Demonstrator
Get latest articles and stories on World at LatestLY. California authorities have arrested a man in connection with the death of a Jewish protester during demonstrations over the Israel-Hamas war.
Los Angeles, Nov 16 (AP) California authorities have arrested a man in connection with the death of a Jewish protester during demonstrations over the Israel-Hamas war.
The Ventura County Sheriff's Office said the 50-year-old suspect was arrested on Thursday and will be booked into jail in the investigation of involuntary manslaughter — the unintentional killing of another person. The district attorney will decide whether there is enough evidence to bring a formal charge.
Paul Kessler, 69, died early November 6 at a hospital following a November 5 confrontation with a pro-Palestinian demonstrator in Thousand Oaks, a suburb northwest of Los Angeles.
Sheriff Jim Fryhoff said subsequently that that deputies determined Kessler had fallen backward and struck his head on the ground.
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The pro-Palestinian demonstrator stayed at the scene and told deputies he had called 911, Fryhoff said.
Authorities did not say in a news release why an arrest was warranted. They are still seeking more video evidence in the case. In a news conference days after Kessler's death, Fryhoff said authorities briefly detained a 50-year-old man from Moorpark and searched his home, but he was then released.
Officials have said investigators were getting conflicting information from witnesses on both sides about what took place before Kessler fell. A short video clip has surfaced showing Kessler on the ground, but no video has been released showing the actual confrontation.
Kessler was among a group of pro-Israel demonstrators who showed up at the event that was advertised as a peaceful gathering to support Palestinians. About 75 people in total were there and patrols in the area reported seeing no indication of violence 15 minutes before the altercation, officials said.
Demonstrations have been widespread and tensions are escalating in the United States as the death toll rises in the Israel-Hamas war. (AP)
(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)