A pro-Israel protester in Massachusetts has been indicted after prosecutors say he shot and killed a man wearing a Palestinian flag pin during a heated argument over the Gaza war. The man ran through a busy road and tackled the defendant, who accused the protesters of “advocating genocide” and called them “sick.”
Scott Hayes, 47, of Framingham, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and violation of constitutional rights to inflict injury after he allegedly shot an assailant in the abdomen as he struggled with the ground in Newton about 6:40 p.m., Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan said at a late-night news conference.
According to the video, the man approached Hayes directly from across the street, tackled him to the ground and grabbed him by the neck on the sidewalk before Hayes fired his gun.
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Scott Haze, gun in hand, struggles with the man on his left and the assailant on his right. (The Daily Wire)
After shots rang out, two other pro-Israel protesters were seen stamping on a pro-Palestinian supporter, whose identity has not been released, and dragging him off Mr Hayes.
Another video posted online shows Hayes administering first aid to the man seconds after the shooting and instructing bystanders to call 911. Ryan said the shooting victim suffered life-threatening injuries and was being treated at a local hospital.
The incident occurred as Hayes and other pro-Israel groups were protesting at the intersection of Washington and Harvard Streets, about 7.5 miles west of Boston in Newton, a city of about 90,000 people with a large Jewish population.
“There was a small group of pro-Israel protesters demonstrating on one side of the street, and apparently a random individual walking on the other side of the street,” Ryan said. “Verbal exchanges were taking place across the street.”
A man on the left runs toward Scott Haze, while a man in the center holds Haze in a chokehold while pro-Israel protesters try to pull the attacker away from Haze. (The Daily Wire)
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“You're sick, you're sick,” a man wearing a purple T-shirt and shorts with a face mask around his neck can be heard saying, in the video.
“Are we sick?” the woman can be heard slapping him back and laughing.
“Yes, you're defending genocide,” the man shouted back.
The next video shows the man running through a busy crosswalk and lunging at Hayes.
“Eventually, the individual quickly crossed the street and attacked one of the protesters,” Ryan said.
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“There was a scuffle in the street and at some point Mr. Hayes used a firearm and fired shots at an individual who was crossing the street.”
Ryan said Hayes legally owns the gun.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to support Hayes, with the fundraising campaign already raising more than $55,000.
The page says Hayes is an Iraq War veteran who, although not Jewish, has participated in demonstrations throughout Boston in defense of Jewish people and their right to self-determination and sovereignty.
Hayes is scheduled to be arraigned in Newton District Court on Friday.
Speech by Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan. (WCVB)
Newton Mayor Ruthann Fuller said this was a “horrific incident” and asked for patience while investigators look into the incident.
“Let's let the Newton Police Department do their job and get the facts straight,” Fuller said. This is the very early stages of an active investigation.
Meanwhile, Newton Police Department Acting Chief George McMains has urged anyone with information or video about the incident to come forward.
He said additional police officers would be patrolling places of worship over the next few days.
An Israeli flag was raised at the scene of the shooting. (WCVB)
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