The 69-year-old owner of the “Trump House” in Southern California died this week after he was allegedly assaulted by a Navy veteran in what authorities said was an unprovoked assault.
Kerry Sheron, an Army veteran known for covering his home with MAGA paraphernalia and American flags, died at a hospital on Sunday after sustaining multiple blows to the head. The attack occurred on May 20 outside his home in Escondido.
Deputy District Attorney Ross Garcia said Thomas Butler, 32, punched Sheron in the jaw once and hit him more in the head after the elderly victim fell down.
The attack on its face appears to be related to Sheron’s pro-Trump displays, but investigators have not identified a political motive yet.
It remains unclear whether the two men knew each other beforehand.
Butler pleaded not guilty to the charges, including attempted murder, elder abuse, criminal threats, and battery. The most serious charges, mainly the one for attempted murder, could be upgraded after Sheron’s death. The suspect remains in jail without bail.
This isn’t the first instance of someone apparently targeting Sheron over his political beliefs. In March, he posted a video showing torn flags and damaged decorations strewn on the ground in the aftermath of a vandalism act against his home.
The Trump House, as it’s known among the local community, started drawing public attention around 2016 when President Donald Trump ran for his first term.
People gathered outside the home to show their support before and after Sheron’s death. On Monday, local residents expressed their condolences to his family.
Sheron left behind his wife, Maria. She said her husband may have been attacked because of the pro-Trump displays outside their home.
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Last week, Vista Mayor John Franklin urged leaders on both sides of the political aisle to denounce the apparent act of political violence.
“The political violence in America, the attempts to kill our president, and the attacks on ordinary citizens who are speaking their First Amendment right have got to come to an end,” the Republican official said in a video as he stood outside Sheron’s home in the days leading up to the homeowner’s death.