A man was shot and seriously wounded during a pro-Israel rally in Newton, a suburb of Boston, on Thursday, authorities said.
According to the local prosecutor, the altercation began when a passerby exchanged words with the demonstrators before crossing the street and tackling one of them, leading to a physical confrontation.
Scott Hayes, 47, a supporter of Israel, then shot the man in the abdomen, reportedly due to an accidental discharge of his firearm. Hayes was taken into custody, and the wounded man, whose identity has not been disclosed, was hospitalized.
Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller called the incident “frightening” and pledged that the city would share with the public the results of the investigation, which is currently underway.