Video shows man with Pro-Palestinian pin shot after tackling Pro-Israel veteran

NEWTON, MA - Video shared with The Daily Wire shows a man wearing a Palestinian pin being shot after he charged across the street and tackled a pro-Israel veteran protester. The incident took place on Thursday evening, September 12th. 

In the video, the man wearing the pin was also sporting a surgical mask around his neck as he stood across the street shouting at the group of 10 protesters, calling them "sick" and accusing them of "defending genocide." Scott Hayes, 47, of Framingham, MA, was getting ready to leave the protest when the man with the pin began yelling at the group, showing his middle finger and shouting at them.

In the next video, the man with the pin charges across the street through traffic and tackles Hayes, an Iraq War veteran, who was carrying an American flag during the protest. Seconds later, the gun was discharged and the man was shot in the stomach during their tussle on the ground. Hayes can then be seen placing his gun on the sidewalk behind him as bystanders try to break the two apart.

Once they were broken apart, Hayes told the bystanders to call 911 as he tended to the wounds of the man who had tackled him. Now, Hayes is being charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and violation of a constitutional right causing injury. Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan said that the veteran had full legal possession of his weapon. The veteran's fellow protesters said that they were not aware that Hayes was carrying a gun, but believe he was acting in self-defense. 

Hayes was at the protest with a group of pro-Israel individuals who hold American, Israeli, and Pahlavi Iranian flags in various parts of Massachusetts to raise awareness about the hostages and the troubles of the Iranian regime. Newton is a suburb of Boston and considered one of the most Jewish cities in the United States, with Jews comprising between 20-30 percent of the population.

Aidin, a pro-Israel Iranian who runs the From Boston to Iran group and was present at the altercation between Hayes and the pro-Palestinian man, told the Daily Wire that he was not sure how the gun was discharged. He said, "I saw him bring his hand up to the veteran and I tried to get closer until I heard the shot fired. We've been to standouts like this often and nothing like this has ever happened. I was shocked when the man ran across the street and had no idea why he would do that."

According to reports, cellphone footage of the incident circulating around social media shows the man wearing the pin shouting at the pro-Israel protesters. He shouted, "You are sick, you are sick. You are defending genocide." The man who Hayes shot, who still has not been identified, suffered life-threatening injuries and according to police, is in a life-threatening condition.

During a press conference, Ryan said, "There was an individual apparently, completely randomly, walking down the other side of the street. Words were exchanged back and forth across the street. Ultimately that individual came very rapidly across the street and tackled one of the demonstrators. There was a scuffle that was going on the street and at some point Mr. Hayes used a gun and fired a shot that struck the individuals who had come across the street."

Also speaking at the press conference, Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller urged the public to "remain calm" and to let the police "do their work and get the facts straight." Newton police said that there will be an increased patrol presence at houses of worship over the coming days. Anyone with pictures, videos, or any other information about the incident in Newton is encouraged to contact the Newton Police Department Detective Bureau at 617-796-2104. People can also contact the bureau anonymously on the tip line at 617-796-2121.