NEWTON, Mass. (AP) — A pro-Israel rally in a Boston suburb turned violent Thursday evening when a passerby was shot during a scuffle after confronting a group of demonstrators, authorities said.
Police were called at 6:40 p.m. to the scene of what they described as a small rally in Newton. Words were exchanged before a passerby rapidly crossed the street and tackled one of the demonstrators, Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan said.
“A scuffle ensued. During that scuffle, the individual who had come across the street was shot by a member of the demonstrating group,” Ryan said during a news conference late Thursday.
Scott Hayes, 47, of Framingham, was arrested on charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and violation of a constitutional right causing injury. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Hayes, who works as a contractor for National Grid, was ordered to be fitted with a GPS monitor and to stay away both from the city of Newton and from the individual who had been shot and to not be in possession of a dangerous weapon.
Hayes, who appeared to have bruising to his face during his court appearance Friday afternoon, was also required to post a $5,000 cash bail and to abide by a 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew.
“This is a textbook case of self defense,” said Glenn MacKinlay, an attorney representing Hayes. “We’re confident that the investigation, when it’s completed, will clear Mr. Hayes of all charges.”
Prosecutors also told the court that an application for a criminal complaint has been applied for against the individual who was shot, identified as Caleb Gannon of Newton. He was being treated at a hospital.
They said they opted for an application for a criminal complaint instead of an arrest because the alleged assault and battery was not committed in the presence of a police officers.
Acting Newton Police Chief George McMains asked witnesses to provide investigators with photos or videos of the confrontation. He said police would provide extra patrols at “houses of worship” over the next several days.
Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller called the shooting a “frightening incident” and asked for everyone to remain calm as police investigate.
“I know people will have a lot of questions, and we will share information with Newtonians and the press when we are able,” Fuller said. “It's really early stages of an active investigation.”
Scott Hayes, arrested on charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and violation of a constitutional right causing injury at a pro-Israel rally, appears for his arraignment in Newton District Court, Friday, Sept. 13,2024, in Newton, Mass. (Jonathan Wiggs/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool)
Scott Hayes, arrested on charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and violation of a constitutional right causing injury at a pro-Israel rally, appears for his arraignment in Newton District Court, Friday, Sept. 13,2024, in Newton, Mass. (Jonathan Wiggs/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool)
Police respond after a shooting at a pro-Israel rally in the Boston suburb of Newton, Mass., on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024. (Kiera McDonald/The Boston Globe via AP)
HOUSTON (AP) — All week, Stefon Diggs downplayed how big it would be when he faced the Buffalo Bills for the first time since a blockbuster trade brought him to Houston.
On Sunday, after the Texans used a last-second field goal to eke out a 23-20 victory, the star receiver finally admitted how important this game was to him.
“I’m not going to sit here and act like it was just regular,” he said. “It meant a lot to me and it was reassuring that the guys around me knew that it meant a lot to me, even if I didn’t say it. I just try to just keep it poised and treat every week like it’s the same … but I’d be lying if I said it didn’t mean a lot.”
C.J. Stroud threw for 331 yards and a touchdown and Ka′imi Fairbairn’s tiebreaking 59-yard field goal as time expired lifted Houston to the victory.
Diggs led the Texans with six receptions for 82 yards and said that Sunday was an emotional day for him after spending the past four seasons in Buffalo.
“I was just trying to take advantage and get a win for my team, but obviously, it’s emotional," he said. “I play with a lot of emotions.”
Then he turned to look directly in the camera and whispered in a sing-song voice.
“I’m emotional,” he said.
The Texans (4-1) led 20-3 after a field goal early in third quarter before the Bills scored 17 straight points to tie it with about 3½ minutes to go.
Stroud was called for intentional grounding to bring up fourth-and-15 and take the Texans out of field-goal range with less than a minute left.
A punt backed the Bills up to their 3 and they punted after three straight incomplete passes to give Houston one last chance.
“Overall, that’s on me,” Buffalo coach Sean McDermott said. “We've just got to do a better job. I have to do a better job in that situation.”
Dare Ogunbowale had a 5-yard run to set up Fairbairn’s game winner.
“It wasn’t all pretty,” coach DeMeco Ryans said. “But it’s the way you finish at the end and I’m proud of the way our guys finished.”
Already without running back Joe Mixon for a fourth straight game, Houston struggled offensively after losing NFL receiving leader Nico Collins to a hamstring injury after he scored a long touchdown early in the second quarter. Ryans said he would by listed as day to day with the injury.
Josh Allen was 9 of 30 for 131 yards and a touchdown as the Bills (3-2) lost for a second straight week after opening the season with three straight wins. Allen struggled before halftime again Sunday, managing just 56 yards passing a week after throwing for 42 yards in the first half of a rout by the Ravens.
“Overall we’ve been a little bit off our game from what we executed in the first three games,” McDermott said.
Dawuane Smoot’s strip-sack of Stroud gave the Bills the ball at the Houston 15 with 4½ minutes to play.
They had the first play of the ensuing drive with Mitchell Trubisky at QB while Allen was in the medical tent being checked out after banging his head hard on the turf a few plays earlier. He re-entered the game on second down but threw two incompletions.
The Bills tied it on a 33-yard field goal.
The Texans were driving with about eight minutes left when Terrel Bernard intercepted a pass intended for Diggs to give Buffalo the ball at its 20.
The Bills couldn’t move the ball and had to punt, but soon got it back on the strip-sack.
The Bills cut the lead to 10 when James Cook scored on a 5-yard run with about nine minutes left in the third quarter.
Rookie Keon Coleman’s 49-yard reception on fourth-and-5 got the Bills within 20-17 on their next drive. Coleman slipped a tackle and then darted down the sideline before flipping into the end zone for his second TD this season.
The touchdown pass was the 231st in Allen’s career, tying him with Patrick Mahomes for the most by a player in his first seven seasons.
The Texans took a 7-3 lead when Cam Akers ran 15 yards for a touchdown with about three minutes left in the first quarter. Ogunbowale had a 38-yard catch-and-run on third-and-5 to keep that drive going.
Collins got in front of the defense for a 67-yard touchdown reception on the first play of Houston’s next drive to extend the lead to 14-3.
Fairbairn added a 50-yard field goal as time expired in the second quarter and his 47-yarder early in the third made it 20-3.
Texans RB British Brooks left with a knee injury in the first quarter. … S Jimmie Ward left in the second with a groin injury.
Bills: Visit the New York Jets on Monday, Oct. 14.
Texans: Visit New England next Sunday.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) throws a pass in front of Houston Texans defensive tackle Mario Edwards Jr., left, during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin (3) celebrates after stopping Houston Texans running back Dare Ogunbowale (33) on a fourth down run during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins (12) runs from Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin (3) during a 67-yard touchdown reception in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins catches a 67-yard touchdown pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) runs from Houston Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr. (51) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair (0) breaks up a pass intended for Buffalo Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid (86) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair breaks up a pass intended for Buffalo Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid, left, during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) throws a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Houston Texans wide receiver Stefon Diggs stands on the sideline during the second half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
