A 47-year-old Massachusetts man has been charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon after he allegedly shot another person during an altercation at a pro-Israel rally in Newton, officials said Thursday night.
The person who was shot suffered life-threatening injuries, authorities said at a brief news conference Thursday night. The man is being treated at a local hospital, an official said.
The incident occurred around 6:40 p.m. ET when Newton police responded to a call at Washington and Harvard streets, where a small group of individuals were engaged in a pro-Israel demonstration on one side of the street, Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan said.
An individual “completely random” walked down the opposite side of the street, and words were exchanged between the two parties, she explained.
That person, who Ryan said was not part of the protest group, started to cross the street, walked back to his side of the street, then walked back across the street again and “finally jumped one of the protesters,” Ryan said. leads to a “fight”.
“During the altercation, the person who had come across the street was shot by a member of the demonstration group,” she said.
The 47-year-old alleged shooter was arrested and charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and violation of a constitutional right causing injury, Ryan told the media.
His arraignment will take place Friday in Newton District Court, she said.
Ryan said it is still early in the investigation, which is still ongoing.
This is an evolving story. Check back for updates.
— ABC News’ Victoria Arancio contributed to this report.