By Doree Lewak and David Propper
A 69-year-old Jewish man died on Monday after falling and hitting his head during an altercation with pro-Palestinian protesters in California, according to authorities.
Paul Kessler succumbed to injuries sustained at dueling demonstrations on Sunday in Thousand Oaks and authorities are investigating his death as a possible hate crime, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office said.
Kessler, an Israel supporter, was involved in a scuffle with pro-Palestinian protesters around 3:20 p.m. when he suffered a head injury during the confrontation, authorities and family friends said.
An autopsy conducted Monday determined Kessler’s manner of death was a homicide, and the cause of death was blunt force head injury, the sheriff’s office said.
The Los Angeles Times reported Kessler was struck in the head before he was knocked over, citing deputies.
When reached by The Post late Monday, a sheriff’s spokesperson didn’t confirm or deny what led up to the fall.
The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles said in a statement Kessler was hit with a megaphone, but authorities didn’t mention that assertion Monday.
Moshe Bryski, a local rabbi from Chabad of Agoura Hills, told The Post Kessler’s death was “just a tragedy.”
Kessler’s wife was “in a state of total shock” when he called her this morning, he noted.
Kessler was a counter-protester to a pro-Palestinian demonstration, he said.
“You don’t expect people to go to a rally and not come home,” Bryski said.
No arrests were announced in Monday’s press release from the sheriff’s office.
Ventura County Sheriff Jim Fryhoff will hold a press conference at 10 a.m. local time Tuesday where more information could be disclosed.
Footage circulating on social media of the purported incident shows a man lying on the ground with an apparent head injury as two people, including a woman with a jacket emblazoned with “Free Palestine,” come to his aid.
A family friend of Kessler’s, Justin Cohen, told The Post Monday night the rally attended by Kessler was the second one he attended since the Oct. 7 Hamas terror attack on Israel.
Cohen, a 38-year-old lawyer, said he was “shocked and devastated” by the sudden death.
“I’ve never known him to have a modicum of violence in him in his entire life,” Cohen said about Kessler.
“He was not a closet Zionist – he wore it like a badge of honor,” Cohen also said. “He was a proud Jew and proud Israel supporter.”
Michael Barclay, a local rabbi who has been in contact with the police, told The Post authorities were still seeking any footage witnesses could provide to shed light on the incident.
Barclay said a man allegedly involved in the altercation was interviewed by investigators.
Ventura County Supervisor Jeff Gorell said in a statement he was “heartbroken” over the death.
“I’m heartbroken to hear of the tragic death of an elderly man today after having been struck at a protest in my district,” he posted on X.
“My prayers are with this man’s family and friends. Our whole community grieves at this senseless loss of life. I call for peace in our community.”
