[Guns N' Coffee]

https://www.latimes.com/california/s...mp-themed-home

A 69-year-old man known in his San Diego County neighborhood as the owner of the “Trump house” has died from injuries suffered when he was brutally assaulted outside of his home.

Kerry George Sheron of Escondido was hospitalized in critical condition last week after he was attacked outside his MAGA-themed residence at East Mission Avenue and Buchanan Street around 2 p.m., according to the city Police Department. The alleged attacker, Thomas Caleb Butler, 32, fled on foot and was apprehended that day.

Butler initially was charged with attempted murder, cruelty to an elder resulting in great bodily injury, making a criminal threat and battery, according to the San Diego County district attorney’s office. He pleaded not guilty Friday.

On Sunday evening, police were notified that Sheron had died. The cause of death is pending determination by the county medical examiner.

The district attorney’s office is reviewing the case and will announce whether a murder charge will be filed at Butler’s June 3 court hearing, according to an office spokesperson. He remained in custody without bail.

The motive for the attack is unclear. Officials are investigating whether it was related to Sheron’s home, locally known for its decorations celebrating President Trump — including dozens of American flags as well as MAGA flags and posters of Trump thrusting his fist in the air following the 2024 assassination attempt in Butler, Penn.

“Detectives are evaluating all potential motives for the assault, including whether the incident may have had a political component; however, we have not developed evidence to support that conclusion,” Escondido Police Lt. Lee Stewart told The Times on Tuesday. “Detectives are also examining whether the suspect and victim had any prior relationship or history of contact.”

Sheron’s wife, Maria Garcia, told local TV station NBC7 that her husband was an Army veteran and that they had received threats related to the Trump decorations. But she said there had been no previous violence.

Detectives are reviewing incidents at Sheron’s home to determine if they had any relation to the attack, Stewart said.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Ross Garcia described the incident in court as an unprovoked attack in which Butler punched Sheron in the jaw, knocked him to the ground and repeatedly struck him in the head, NBC7 reported.

A bystander attempted to intervene and also was injured, police said.

Dozens of people carrying American flags and toting MAGA gear gathered outside Sheron’s home Friday to show support for him and his wife.

“Cowards like this do not belong to our society,” rally attendee Christine Brown told NBC7, describing the alleged attacker.

“He is a veteran,” she said of Sheron. “We need to come and support our veterans. We need to support our patriots.”

photo from msn.com

[kellyhound]

According to family friends, Butler is a U.S. Navy veteran suffering from severe PTSD and mental illness, noting that his medications had recently been failing.

While Sheron’s family suspects a political motive, investigators note there is no evidence yet to confirm that the suspect and victim knew each other or that the attack was explicitly politically driven. Friends of Butler claimed he was a registered Republican who harbored no ill will toward the home.

Investigators have obtained and are reviewing clear security video captured from a residence across the street.

The video shows Sheron standing peacefully in his front yard when Butler approached him and launched the unprovoked assault.

The Escondido Police Department is analyzing previous harassment reports filed at the residence. They are checking if minor vandalism incidents targeting the property's pro-Trump signs earlier this year are linked to Butler.

The DA's office reported that there is still no established prior relationship or personal history of contact between the two men.

According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, about 6% of the U.S. population (roughly 6 out of every 100 people) will experience PTSD at some point in their lives.

In any single year, roughly 13 million Americans are actively managing the condition.

The condition impacts specific groups at significantly higher rates. Women are twice as likely as men to develop PTSD (8% vs 4%), frequently due to higher rates of interpersonal violence and sexual assault.

Up to 29% to 30% of Vietnam veterans and Operations Iraqi Freedom/Enduring Freedom veterans have experienced PTSD.

[William May]

My charitable assumption is that most MAGA supporters are mentally ill, separate from any PTSD they may have suffered in the service. TDS is real, but they attribute it to the wrong set of actors in the current political drama.

[chris]

You know what's stupid? Dressing your house up to mimic your favorite politician. You know what's even dumber than that? Killing some guy because he dresses his house up like his favorite politician. I'm pretty sure the collective IQ of our entire nation dropped several points from this incident alone.

[ChristySD]

People are fucking nuts on both sides….. that’s why I play in my sandbox in the middle.

[DarkSighted]

Originally Posted by William May ↗

My charitable assumption is that most MAGA supporters are mentally ill, separate from any PTSD they may have suffered in the service. TDS is real, but they attribute it to the wrong set of actors in the current political drama.

Yeah, the first time I heard the term TDS, I figured it meant MAGATS, i.e. anyone who believes anything (or everything) the great orange asshat says.... Imagine my shock and surprise when I finally found out it was a term coined BY those folks, to describe those who see right through T-rump and call it out. Wrong set of actors, indeed.

[William May]

Originally Posted by DarkSighted ↗

Yeah, the first time I heard the term TDS, I figured it meant MAGATS, i.e. anyone who believes anything (or everything) the great orange asshat says.... Imagine my shock and surprise when I finally found out it was a term coined BY those folks, to describe those who see right through T-rump and call it out. Wrong set of actors, indeed.

Yes, I was honestly REALLY puzzled when I found out it applied to normal people who can see what's going on, and exactly WHO is responsible for the results. Funny they meant ME, but actually I thought it was applied to THEM. I still DO!

[CatBatMan]

Perfection. No notes.

[William May]

He gave his life for Trump.

I hope they put that on his grave stone.

[Pyramid_Head]

I'm sure it was the left striking again. Attacking anyone that doesn't agree with their warped views seems to be their thing.