A heckling protester was shot after he attacked a pro-Israel protester in Newton, Massachusetts, on Thursday. The incident, which occurred during a protest, was caught on video and has sparked an investigation.
According to witnesses, the Hamas supporter began shouting accusations of “genocide” across the street. He also inflated the number of Palestinian casualties in Gaza, further fueling tensions. The conflict escalated when he charged across the street and tackled one of the pro-Israel protesters.
Unbeknownst to the attacker, the man he assaulted was an Iraq War veteran and a legal gun owner. After a brief struggle, the veteran drew his firearm and shot the Hamas supporter in the stomach. Whether the shot was intentional or accidental remains unclear.
The wounded attacker received medical attention from bystanders before being taken to a hospital. He is currently in stable condition. The veteran was taken into custody by local authorities, and an investigation is ongoing.
Massachusetts’ self-defense laws could complicate the legal outcome for the veteran. In cases involving firearms, proving that the use of force was justified can be difficult. However, the fact that the Hamas supporter initiated the attack may work in the veteran’s favor as the investigation continues.
