A 50-year-old man from Moorpark is being investigated in the death of a Jewish man who died Monday after a confrontation during competing pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian demonstrations in Thousand Oaks, authorities said.
But details on what happened prior to the victim falling to the ground are still unclear, with witnesses providing conflicting statements, Ventura County sheriff’s officials said Tuesday.
Paul Kessler, 69, from Thousand Oaks, was found suffering from a head injury and bleeding from his head and mouth after he fell backward and struck his head on the ground following a fight with one or more counter-protesters on Sunday afternoon, according to authorities and witness accounts.
The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles said Kessler, who was Jewish, was struck in the head by a megaphone held by a pro-Palestinian demonstrator. As of Tuesday morning, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office did not confirm that is how Kessler wound up falling.
Jonathan Oswaks of Thousand Oaks, who had been at the counter-protest to support Israel on Sunday, said on Tuesday that he and Kessler were sitting on a bench outside a restaurant Sunday when Oswaks received a call from a friend who told him they were being filmed by a man. Oswaks said he later saw the man assaulting someone.
During the protest, Oswaks said, the same man approached him with a megaphone and yelled into his ear before Oswaks told him to “back up.”
Oswaks, 69, said he was across the street at the intersection where the protests were being held when he saw the man punch someone in the mouth with the megaphone. He said he didn’t know what happened after that.
A reporter could not reach anyone on Tuesday who had been in the pro-Palestinian demonstration and might have seen the encounter.
The suspect, identified only as a 50-year-old Moorpark man who was a pro-Palestinian demonstrator, remained at the scene and cooperated with authorities. The man told deputies he was also one of the people who called 911 and requested medical attention for Kessler, Ventura County Sheriff Jim Fryhoff told reporters at a news conference Tuesday morning.
The man was detained for several hours Monday while deputies searched his residence. He was not arrested.
The Ventura County Medical Examiner has ruled Kessler’s death a homicide, with the cause a blunt-force head injury. On Tuesday, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Christopher Young stated that the manner of death does not indicate that a crime was committed, only that the actions of another individual contributed to his death.
Young added that Kessler had non-lethal injuries on the left side of his face, but asked if they could have been caused by a megaphone, he could not say.
At about 3:20 p.m. Sunday, deputies responded to reports of a possible assault at the intersection of Westlake Boulevard and Thousand Oaks Boulevard, where approximately 75 to 100 people gathered for both demonstrations, authorities said.
“Witness accounts indicated that Kessler was involved in a physical altercation with counter-protestor(s). During the altercation, Kessler fell backward and struck his head on the ground,” the sheriff’s department said in a news release.
Rabbi Michael Barclay of Temple Ner Simcha in Westlake Village, near Thousand Oaks, urged people to avoid jumping to conclusions about what happened.
“I just got off the phone with the Chief of Police,” he posted on X, formerly Twitter. “They have conflicting reports of what happened, and they did interview the suspect that is identified in social media at the event. They have no video.”
He said police are being cautious before making accusations. “We need to do the same; and not let this become a spark that starts an inferno,” he wrote.
“Our thoughts are with the family and the Jewish community during this difficult time,” said CAIR-LA executive director Hussam Ayloush, who also urged people to wait for the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office to complete their investigation before drawing any conclusions.
“We are deeply saddened by this tragic and shocking loss. We join local Jewish leaders in calling on all individuals to refrain from jumping to conclusions, sensationalizing such a tragedy for political gains, or spreading rumors that could unnecessarily escalate tensions that are already at an all-time high,” Ayloush said in a statement.
Kessler’s neighbors on a quiet street in Thousand Oaks declined on Tuesday to discuss what happened to him. One neighbor who spoke briefly called Kessler a kind man. A woman who was walking her dog said the nearby residents were requesting privacy out of respect for the grieving family.
A memorial established for Kessler at the intersection of Thousand Oaks Blvd and Westlake Blvd. grew steadily over the course of Tuesday as mourners left flowers, candles and prayers.
A Star of David was drawn in chalk surrounding the bloodstain where Kessler’s head struck the pavement.
Stephanie Gootgeld, an Agora Hills resident, was overcome by emotion at the sight of the memorial. Her father was a holocaust survivor from Poland and she grew up hearing tales of the horrific acts committed against Jews.
Kessler’s death has rattled the local Jewish community, which was already feeling unsafe in light of the growing acts of antisemitism, Gootgeld said.
“Friends of mine won’t even wear necklaces with the Star of David anymore,” she said. Everyone is extremely shaken up. It’s horrifying.”
Since the war between Israel and Hamas broke out last month protests have been held around the world. Hamas terrorists have been condemned for invading Israel and killing and kidnapping civilians while Israel has been accused of indiscriminate bombing that has killed thousands of civilians in Gaza.
Fryhoff acknowledged the passions surrounding the investigation and the emotions being felt as a result of the Israel-Hamas war.
“We understand that the war in Israel and Gaza has led to an increase in hateful and threatening rhetoric, and we want to ensure the Muslim and Jewish communities that we stand with them both during this difficult time,” he said. “The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office remains committed to protecting the rights and the safety of all members of our community regardless of their race, religious or ethnicity.”
Around 6 p.m. a dozen community members gathered to light candles around the memorial and the Star of David.
By this time the pavement was covered in chalk messages of prayer and remembrance, bearing messages such as “Rest in paradise Paul” and “May his memory be of a loving blessing.”
Elena Colombo, a local resident, organized the evening’s prayers and candle lighting by circulating the event in different text threads. She didn’t post anything on social media for fear of attracting hate or violence, she said.
“He came here on a beautiful day and he never got a chance to go home,” Colombo said. “This should never have happened.”
The Associated Press and City News Service contributed to this report.
