One shot fired and another arrested after clashes at pro-Israel rally in Massachusetts | Massachusetts

A man was shot and critically injured in Newton, Massachusetts, on Thursday after attacking a pro-Israel protester.

During a press conference Thursday evening, Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan said the incident occurred around 6:40 p.m. Thursday evening.

A small group of pro-Israel protesters were on one side of the street, Ryan said, and a man whose identity was not publicly released walked across the street and began exchanging words with the group.

There was “an exchange of blows,” Ryan said, and then the incident escalated when the man crossed the street and “jumped on one of the protesters.”

“A scuffle ensued,” Ryan said, adding that during the altercation, the person who had crossed the street “was shot by a member of the protesting group.”

The person suffered life-threatening injuries and is being treated at a local hospital, she said.

The person who used the weapon was identified by authorities Thursday as 47-year-old Scott Hayes of Framingham. The Middlesex District Attorney's Office said Thursday evening that Hayes was arrested and charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and violation of a constitutional right with bodily injury.

His arraignment was scheduled for Friday.

According to NBC News, when asked whether the person shot was anti-Israel or pro-Palestinian, Ryan replied that it was “too early to say.”

In a video of the incident posted online, the man across the street appears to accuse Israeli protesters of “defending genocide,” to which pro-Israel protesters respond by calling him “so stupid.”

After an exchange of words and an argument on the other side of the street, the man is seen running towards the protesters, attacking one of the pro-Israel demonstrators and attacking him.

The video shows him and the man he jumped on (it appears to be Hayes) rolling around on the ground. At one point, two other men intervene and start kicking the man, who ran across the street.

The pro-Israel protester then appears to pull out his gun in the scuffle, which goes off and shoots the man in the stomach. Shortly after, the protester is seen trying to help the man he just shot and calls 911.

A witness to the incident told NBC Boston it was “disheartening” to see what happened and they hope everyone is OK.

The Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston released a statement about the incident.

“While the details of the incident remain under investigation, there should be no doubt that violence of any kind is abhorrent in our democratic society,” the statement said. “The right of people to assemble in civil, non-violent public demonstrations must be sacrosanct.”

The statement asked for patience throughout the investigation and encouraged Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller and District Attorney Ryan to continue to “communicate fully with the public and the community about the investigation and the reasons for the charges filed and for any additional charges that may be filed.”

The group added: “Regardless of the motive or role in the outbreak of violence, we pray for the full recovery of the person injured last night.”

According to the Associated Press, Newton Deputy Police Chief George McMains said police will conduct additional patrols outside “houses of worship” in the coming days.

Mayor Fuller also reportedly called the shooting a “frightening incident” and said the investigation was ongoing.

Congressman Jacob Auchincloss, who represents Massachusetts' 4th congressional district, said in a post on X on Thursday that “violence in political discourse is never acceptable,” thanked authorities for their “quick response” and said he looked forward to “a thorough investigation of this incident.”