Man shot after attacking pro-Israel demonstrator in Boston suburb
Activist Scott Hayes who shot his attacker was swiftly arrested and charged, drawing ADL complaint; video shows passerby yelling at group before rushing at Hayes and assaulting him
A pro-Israel rally in a Boston suburb turned violent Thursday evening when a man was shot during a scuffle after attacking a group of demonstrators.
Police were called at 6:40 p.m. to the scene of what they described as a small rally in Newton.
A video of the incident showed a man confronting the pro-Israel crowd, accusing them of supporting genocide as they shouted back. The man then rapidly crossed the street and tackled one of the demonstrators.
The two continued to scuffle with the man who had been assaulted appearing to fire a single shot from a pistol.
“During that scuffle, the individual who had come across the street was shot by a member of the demonstrating group,” Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan said during a news conference late Thursday.
The pro-Israel activist who was attacked, Scott 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 was scheduled to be arraigned in district court Friday, Ryan said.
BREAKING: Anti-Israel man shot in stomach after charging through traffic to tackle a man at a pro-Israel demonstration outside Boston in Newton, Massachusetts.
Footage obtained exclusively by @KassyAkiva: pic.twitter.com/nsGN3MQVAO
— Daily Wire (@realDailyWire) September 13, 2024
Ryan said the man who attacked the protesters was “apparently completely randomly walking down the other side of the street” when he encountered them.
The man, who was not identified, was being treated at a hospital for life-threatening injuries, Ryan said.
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.
A later video posted online showed the tackled man appearing to provide preliminary medical care to the assailant, who was conscious and mobile, and requesting an ambulance be called.
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.”
“At some point in that melee, yeah, there was a shot, but this guy was really tough to take down, he was really determined,” Dave Sherman, who witnessed the incident, told local Channel 5 Boston.
Hayes was identified on social media as an Iraq war veteran known for his presence at pro-Israel rallies, but these details could not be immediately confirmed.
The New England branch of the Anti-Defamation League criticized the decision to file charges against him before a full investigation was completed, calling it “concerning.”
“We encourage Newton Police and the Middlesex District Attorney to conduct a thorough investigation of the entire incident. We are concerned about escalating tensions and remain in contact with law enforcement and community officials,” it said.
ADL is aware that an anti-Israel protestor was shot after charging across traffic and violently tackling a pro-Israel demonstrator to the ground in Newton, MA. Reports that charges were immediately filed prior to completion of the investigation are concerning. Protests should not…
— ADL New England (@ADL_NewEngland) September 13, 2024
A fundraiser on the GoFundMe website was set up in the wake of the incident to cover Hayes’s legal fees, drawing some $17,000 as of Friday morning.
I can now release his name since the DA put it out there.
The veteran is Scott Hayes of Framingham pic.twitter.com/Ltqf9AeLDZ
— Kassy Akiva (@KassyAkiva) September 13, 2024
Fighting in the Gaza Strip and the plight of hostages kidnapped by Palestinian terror group Hamas on October 7 have set passions aflame in many US cities, with some demonstrations turning violent.
In October, a man pulled a gun and fired shots into the air after being attacked by pro-Palestinian protesters demonstrating against a Jewish community vigil outside Chicago for victims of the terrorist onslaught, authorities said. Charges were not filed against the man.
Months later, a Jewish man at a pro-Israel demonstration was killed when a counter-protester shoved him to the ground following a verbal altercation. A suspect in the case was charged with manslaughter.
