An Israel-supporting veteran has been arrested for shooting a pro-Palestinian attacker who sprinted across the street and tackled him.
Video footage shows a man wearing a Palestinian pin badge confronting a small group of Israeli supporters, as both sides are seen trading heated words across the road in the Boston suburb of Newton.
The man with a pin, who also has a surgical mask around his neck, calls the group of 10 people on a rally “sick”, and accuses them of “defending genocide”.
A woman is heard calling him stupid, and suddenly the man makes a b-line for Scott Hayes, 47, who is an Iraq War veteran, according to The Daily Wire.
The video shows him weaving through traffic and leaps onto Mr Hayes, who is tackled violently to the ground and put in a headlock.
Others come to the veteran’s defence and a melee ensues, during which a gun is fired.
As the scuffle dissipates, it becomes clear the man is hurt, and Mr Hayes can be seen tending to the man who attacked him and asking his fellow demonstrators to call 911.
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Mr Hayes, 47, of Framingham, was arrested on charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and violation of a constitutional right causing injury. He is scheduled to be arraigned in district court Friday.
The shooting victim, who was not identified, was being treated at a hospital for life-threatening injuries, Ryan said.
The veteran’s fellow protesters said the veteran was acting in self defence, but were not aware he had a gun, which according to Boston 25 he legally owns.
Marian Ryan, Middlesex County District Attorney, said: “A scuffle ensued. During that scuffle, the individual who had come across the street was shot by a member of the demonstrating group.”
Police were called at 6.40pm on Thursday.
Acting Newton Police Chief George McMains asked witnesses to provide investigators with photos or videos of the confrontation. He said police would provide extra patrols at “houses of worship” over the next several days.
Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller called the shooting a “frightening incident” and asked for everyone to remain calm as police investigate.
“I know people will have a lot of questions, and we will share information with Newtonians and the press when we are able,” Fuller said. “It’s really early stages of an active investigation.”
