AG Report 9.17.2024

Pro-Israel Veteran Charged After Shooting Attacker During Pro-Israel Demonstration

Last Thursday, veteran Scott Hayes from Framingham, MA, attended a local pro-Israel rally. During the event, a man named Caleb Gannon, whose social media history shows a record of bigotry and hatred for both Israel and America, started screaming at rally-goers from the other side of the street.

Thanks to Daily Wire reporter Kassy Akiva, we have video evidence of what transpired next. Gannon, tired of exchanging mere verbal barbs, ran across the street to physically attack Hayes. During the scuffle, Hayes shot Gannon in the stomach. Hayes then proceeded to render first aid to Gannon while bystanders called the authorities.

There’s no disputing that Gannon initiated the physical attack or that Hayes was acting in self-defense. The only question is whether the level of force that Hayes used was acceptable. Despite the facts surrounding the incident, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan charged Hayes with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. After some public outcry, Gannon was also charged with assault and battery.

What I found most amazing is that not only did the District Attorney rush to file charges against Hayes, but much of the early reporting was completely deceptive. The Boston Globe described Gannon’s conduct as “confront(ing) demonstrators.” Local reporters used very similar language.

None of these descriptions, which were clearly intended to justify the charges against Hayes, remotely matched reality. The outlets only received pushback because of the clear video evidence, which makes one consider how often the initial framing in similar cases with no video is skewed.

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