Police report shooting at Pro-Israel rally in Newtonville

A Framingham man was arrested Thursday night after police say he shot someone during a pro-Israel rally in Newtonville.

One of the demonstrators, Scott Hayes, 47, is charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and violation of a constitutional right, causing injury. He is set to be arraigned in Newton District Court on Friday.

The victim is at a local hospital with life-threatening injuries, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan said at a press conference Thursday night.

The rally in support of Israel was at the corner of Washington and Harvard streets.

At just before 7 p.m., a man walking on the opposite side of the street began yelling at the demonstrators, Ryan said. The man walked into the street and back to the opposite side of the street, “and there were things being said back and forth across the street.”

“Ultimately, that individual came very rapidly across the street and tackled one of the demonstrators,” Ryan continued. “There was a scuffle on the street, and at some point, Mr. Hayes used a gun and fired a shot that struck the individual who had come across the street.”

Acting Police Chief George McMains asked anyone with video footage or information regarding the incident to contact the Newton Police Department and said the department would add more patrols near houses of worship.