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 on Wednesday 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 the area on foot and was apprehended later that day.
Butler was initially 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, Escondido police were notified that Sheron had died from his injuries. 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 an additional murder charge will be filed at Butler’s upcoming June 3 court hearing, according to an office spokesperson. He is currently in custody without bail.
The motive for the attack is unclear. Officials are investigating whether it was related to his 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 into the air following the July 2024 assassination attempt in Butler, Penn.
“At this time, 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 previously received threats related to the Trump-themed decorations on their home. But she said there had been no previous incidents of violence.
Detectives are currently reviewing prior 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 where Butler punched Sheron in the jaw, knocking him to the ground and repeatedly striking him in the head, NBC7 reported.
A bystander attempted to intervene and also was injured during the attack, police said.
Dozens of people carrying American flags and toting MAGA gear gathered outside of Sheron’s home on Friday to show their 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 [Sheron] is a veteran,” she said. “We need to come and support our veterans. We need to support our patriots.”
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