LOS ANGELES, Cal.-The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office says it does not have video of the “actual incident” of a Jewish man falling and suffering a fatal head injury during a pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian demonstration at an intersection.
Paul Kessler, 69, fell and struck his head on Sunday, Nov. 5 and died the next day.
According to NBC News, Kessler was supporting Israel at the demonstration before his fall, while a suspect in the case was at the intersection supporting Palestine.
The 50-year-old suspect remained at the scene and is cooperating with investigators. So far no arrests have been made in the death that has been ruled a homicide.
The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office reportedly has photos and videos from before and after the incident, but no video of the “actual incident.”
According to the Ventura County Chief Medical Officer, Kessler suffered a fatal impact to the back of his head from falling, he also reportedly had an injury to the left side of his face that could be consistent with a blow.
While there is no video of the incident, there is also conflicting statements from witnesses at the scene as to what precipitated the fall after an interaction between Kessler and the suspect.
Ventura County Sheriff Jim Fryhoff said that investigators are working to determine “whether or not there was a blow to the face that caused the fall, or if Mr. Kessler fell without that being the precipitating event.”
According to NBC News reporting on the incident by Phil Helsel, the Sheriff’s Office has been unable to confirm claims that Kessler was hit in the head by a megaphone or bullhorn before falling.
