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.

Around 3 a.m., a patrol officer witnessed a blue Camaro pass by driving at an estimated 90 miles per hour westbound on East First Street before slamming into a US Bank on the corner of Newport Avenue.

The front of the car then caught on fire, Lt. Ryan Coe said.

Firefighter paramedics responded and pronounced the two adults dead at the scene, said Capt. Thanh Nguyen of the Orange County Fire Authority.

It is unclear if drugs or alcohol were a factor in the collision. The identity of the two occupants had not been released, pending notification to the next of kin.

At around 8:15 p.m., a Placentia police officer leaving a restaurant discovered a man down on the street with a gunshot wound to a leg on the 800 block of Sunset Drive.

An additional officer arrived and found another man on the front porch of a nearby residence, suffering from a gunshot wound to his torso, police said.

Both men were hospitalized but the second one died.

Police say they believe the shooting occurred on the 200 block of South Bradford Avenue, a half-mile from where the victims where discovered.

A pickup truck driven by the men was found parked on a street close to where they were found, police said.

A possible motive wasn’t disclosed.

The shooting occurred around 9 a.m. on Anaheim Boulevard, south of Ball Road, Sgt. Jon McClintock said. Officers were responding to a report of a person armed with a rifle, police said.

Police could be heard yelling at Abigail Lopez of Anaheim — “Put it down! You’re going to get shot!” — as she stood in front of a bus bench next to a Burger King in blurry footage by OC Hawk, a news organization that often works with the Southern California News Group.

Lopez appeared to still be holding something in her hands when gunfire rang out. Lopez then fell back onto the bench, the video shows.

A BB or pellet gun that resembled a short-barrel assault weapon was found at the scene, police said.

The Orange County District Attorney’s Office has began an investigation into the circumstances of the shooting. The Anaheim police major-incident review team and internal-affairs detectives also went to the scene.

Earlier this month, on Oct. 3, police shot and killed Luis Muñoz, a 29-year-old resident of Anaheim, in the parking lot of a gas station at Orangewood Avenue and Harbor Boulevard.

Anaheim police had attempted to arrest Muñoz, who was a suspect in a sexual assault. They said he ran from officers until he reached the ARCO parking lot, where he was shot.

After the shooting, a large knife that police believe belonged to Muñoz was found nearby, they said. No officer was reported injured.

Man fatally shot by Anaheim police is identified

The victim, identified by family as Larry Rojas from Orange, was shot in the Nellie Gail Ranch neighborhood on Oct. 17 while parked in his security vehicle. Authorities later arrested Matthew Luke Pickens, 32, who lives in the Laguna Hills neighborhood, on suspicion of attempted murder.

Rojas was on routine patrol when the shooter approached him, and the two exchanged a few words before the security guard was shot in the shoulder, neck, and back of the head, according to his 40-year-old brother Marcos Rojas. He didn’t know what the argument was about.

Sheriff’s officials confirmed the guard was doing nothing out of the ordinary when he was shot.

Larry Rojas had only been employed by the security company for two months. He previously was a social worker conducting homeless outreach and a behavioral therapist for autistic children.

Rojas said his brother is currently “fighting for his life” and will likely live with a disability if he survives the gunshot wound in his head.

In a declaration filed by Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Elliot in support of increasing Pickens’ bail, Elliot said the suspect had ongoing mental health issues and previously displayed violent tendencies toward law enforcement, including being charged with battery on a peace officer in 2011 and 2012. The disposition of those cases was not immediately clear on Tuesday.

During a search of Pickens’ residence and vehicle, authorities found multiple knives, makeshift weapons, and several firearms, including an unserialized ghost gun, court documents show.

The declaration did not specify which weapon was used in the shooting. The guns were not registered to Pickens, Sgt. Frank Gonzalez said.

Elliot described the shooting as “an especially egregious violent act,” committed against an unsuspecting victim and recommended a no-bail hold due to Pickens’ history and access to firearms.

The judge agreed to no bail, and Pickens was charged with attempted murder and three felony enhancements, including attempted premeditated murder, and great bodily injury.

A GoFundMe has been established to support Rojas and his family, who describe him as someone who has always been dedicated to helping others, a nature and animal lover who enjoys camping and the outdoors.

“His injuries are life-threatening and if survivable will be a long and difficult recovery. We are staying as positive and strong as possible. We ask for everyone to please pray for him and his family,” Yesenia Diaz , the victim’s wife, wrote on GoFundMe.

An attorney for Pickens did not respond for comment on Tuesday.

Multiple consumer complaints alleged that Erin Lee McCarroll, who conducted business under Erin McCarroll Insurance Service, between June 2017 and November 2019 accepted premium payments and used the funds for her expenses. On Monday, McCarroll pled not guilty to 27 felony charges, including  grand theft and forgery, Orange County Superior Court records show.

An investigation by the Department of Insurance revealed that McCarroll allegedly failed to place insurance coverage for general liability policies and workers’  compensation insurance coverage, leaving at least 10 clients unaware they were vulnerable to uncovered claims and potential financial losses.

McCarroll reportedly deceived her clients by producing fake certificates of insurance, leading victims to believe they had successfully received the insurance policies they purchased from her, officials from the state agency said.

The pyrotechnic blasts were illegal, Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Steve Concialdi said. The fireworks, which Santa Ana police said were set off in the 400 block of West Central Avenue, were seen or heard as far away as Huntington Beach and Aliso Viejo.

“I thought I was hearing artillery fire and/or Godzilla’s footsteps,” one person wrote on Reddit.

“Whoa I’m in HB and this is wild. It was louder than the air show… I saw what looked like fireworks in the sky tho?” wrote another.

No injuries were reported.

A 5-minute video shared on YouTube titled “Pyromaniac Takeover” showed a group of people lighting off several different devices on an empty street before a flurry of fireworks burst into the sky, followed by thick plumes of white smoke and a series of bangs, booms, and whistles.

The video was removed on Sunday. But another one could be seen on TikTok.

Another video recorded in the area and posted on X shows remnants of leftover fireworks, smoke, and small fires lining a street in Santa Ana. The driver filming the video appears to be caught up in the blast after a firework erupts right next to his car.

random huge fireworks were going off in #OrangeCounty CA and I decided to find the origin of it and stupidly drove through it pic.twitter.com/fKsqBFsqZw

— James Lee (@jlsupreme) October 22, 2023

At least 40 people gathered in the area to watch what appeared to be an orchestrated, illegal fireworks show, a security guard at the cannabis dispensary 420 Central said. Several food trucks stationed next door had their windows shattered from the shockwaves.

Tensions grew after police arrived around 11:30 p.m. and chased a car out of the area. Afterward, the security guard said, several people started throwing fireworks at him and said fireballs were going off in his direction. He asked to remain anonymous out of safety concerns.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department’s bomb squad recovered several packages deemed to be explosives from the scene. But no arrests were made, as the crowd dispersed once officers arrived and no one came forward as a victim to press charges, Santa Ana Police Officer Natalie Garcia said.

Around 4:39 p.m., police responded to a report of a BMW sedan that slammed into Tobacco Buzz at 860 W. Imperial Highway.

Security footage shared by freelance videographer OnScene TV shows at least three people inside the store, including a customer who walked in seconds before the woman drove through the front entrance, with the car stopping well inside the shop.

In an interview with OnScene TV, store employee Ansh Seth said he was behind the register when he heard glass cracking and, at a moment’s notice, felt a pile of items fall on top of him.

“I didn’t realize I was hurt until the adrenal went down,” Seth said.

He said a friend of his, who was helping fix a light at the store entrance, received a leg injury and was hospitalized.

There was no word on whether the driver, a Brea resident, was injured.

The school district was made aware of the hate symbols over the weekend and reported it to police, Newport-Mesa School District spokeswoman Annette Franco said.

“This behavior is unacceptable and will not be tolerated in our schools,” Franco said. “We are better than this.”

The district met with representatives from the Jewish Federation of Orange County this week, where they discussed the campus climate and the organization’s student-to-student program, said Joey Good, a federation spokesman. Students in the program who may be unfamiliar with Judaism can learn from Jewish teen ambassadors.

“Too often, antisemitic statements on high school campuses go unheard. But when hateful statements are made as visible as a swastika on a school locker, we need to recognize that schools must do more to ensure the safety of Jewish students,” Erik Ludwig, President & CEO of the Jewish Federation of Orange County said in a statement.

Franco said the vandalism and an increase in digital hate speech prompted Corona del Mar Middle/High School officials to form an interfaith council made up of students, parents, community members, and local religious leaders to discuss what happened, as well as educate and encourage productive dialogue around culturally sensitive issues.

“This is especially important as we are seeing an increase in hate speech and violence online and in social media due to recent events overseas,” she said.

The council was expected to meet this week, she said. Police have not returned a reporter’s calls about the incident, and the district did not respond to additional requests for comment.

In 2019, students, parents, and community members — including a Holocaust survivor, expressed shock and outrage during a meeting with district and Newport Harbor High School administrators after a photo taken at an off-campus party showed several students flashing a Nazi salute as they surrounded a swastika formed by red plastic cups.

According to administrators, the off-campus party involved students from Newport Harbor, Estancia, Costa Mesa, and Corona del Mar high schools.

The shooting was reported just after 11 a.m. Tuesday in the area of Bridlewood Drive and Saddlerock Place in Laguna Hills, where an on-duty security guard was found parked in his security vehicle suffering from gunshot wounds to his upper torso.

The security guard was hospitalized and remained in critical condition Wednesday, said Orange County Sheriff’s Sgt. Mike Woodroof.

Deputies surrounded the home of the suspect, Matthew Luke Pickens, who surrendered peacefully, according to authorities. The 32-year-old man was arrested and booked on suspicion of attempted murder.

Authorities also seized multiple weapons from Pickens’ residence and vehicle. The weapons will be analyzed to determine if any were used in the shooting, the Sheriff’s Department said in a statement.

Further information on the circumstances of the shooting and the motive, if known, was not immediately disclosed by authorities.

The security guard is an employee of 24-Hour Mobile Patrol and was the only on-duty security officer at the time of the shooting, according to Brian Mitchell, general manager of the Nellie Gail Ranch Homeowner’s Association.