{"id":3686,"date":"2026-05-27T18:39:37","date_gmt":"2026-05-27T18:39:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/2026\/05\/27\/california-veteran-known-for-pro-trump-display-outside-his-home-dies-after-assault\/"},"modified":"2026-05-27T18:39:37","modified_gmt":"2026-05-27T18:39:37","slug":"california-veteran-known-for-pro-trump-display-outside-his-home-dies-after-assault","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/?p=3686","title":{"rendered":"California veteran known for pro-Trump display outside his home dies after assault"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"border-color:var(--article-border);background-color:var(--article-inner-background)\" class=\"dcr-wqti5a\">\n<div class=\"dcr-2zxs1v\">\n<div style=\"--grid-area:media\" data-gu-name=\"media\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-14emo0l\">\n<div class=\"dcr-tr9ye5\">\n<figure id=\"010eac00-fd12-4076-b4dd-4145aa9c175e\" class=\"dcr-142siv7\">\n<div id=\"img-1\" class=\"dcr-1t8m8f2\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Donald Trump yard signs lean against a gate\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/36f63d758d5db9f2da2fb04e123f687d9c8858c5\/456_680_3315_2653\/master\/3315.jpg?width=465&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none&amp;crop=none\" width=\"465\" height=\"372.1402714932127\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"dcr-evn1e9\"><span class=\"dcr-v822l1\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-gup2gr\">\n<div class=\"dcr-fntg6k\"><label for=\"the-checkbox\" class=\"dcr-1xgwz8b\"><\/label> <\/p>\n<div id=\"the-caption\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1os51wo\"><span class=\"dcr-hvsf4t\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">Sheron was attacked outside his house in Escondido on 20 May.<\/span> Photograph: Scott Olson\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><a href=\"#img-1\" data-ignore=\"global-link-styling\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-13fd1ms\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><button data-element-id=\"010eac00-fd12-4076-b4dd-4145aa9c175e\" type=\"button\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-4tmywn\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><span class=\"dcr-194i6pr\">View image in fullscreen<\/span><\/button><\/a><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-n4pnam\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1hdkqum\"><span class=\"dcr-hvsf4t\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">Sheron was attacked outside his house in Escondido on 20 May.<\/span> Photograph: Scott Olson\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/span><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:border\" data-gu-name=\"border\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:headline\" data-gu-name=\"headline\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-14emo0l\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1aqe7zu\">\n<h1 class=\"dcr-1k1a1x\">California veteran known for pro-Trump display outside his home dies after assault<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:standfirst\" data-gu-name=\"standfirst\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-15in7js\">\n<p>Authorities have said they are still investigating the motive of the attack on Kerry Sheron, 69, by Thomas Butler <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:body\" data-gu-name=\"body\" class=\"dcr-kn9unn\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1a4fred\">\n<div id=\"maincontent\" class=\"dcr-ydnaza\">\n<div class=\"article-body-commercial-selector article-body-viewer-selector dcr-1c9t5u6\">\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">A southern <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/california\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">California<\/a> man has died after an assault last week in front of his San Diego area home, which was well known for its extensive collection of US flags and signs supporting <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/donaldtrump\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Donald Trump<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Authorities confirmed on Monday that Kerry Sheron, a 69-year-old US army veteran, died days after he was attacked on Wednesday outside his home in Escondido. Police have arrested Thomas Butler, a 32-year-old who <a href=\"https:\/\/www.military.com\/navy-veteran-arrested-charged-with-brutally-attacking-army-veteran-69\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">media outlets<\/a> have identified as a navy veteran, on multiple charges including attempted murder, elder abuse and battery.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Officers were called to the street where Sheron lived for a reported assault on the afternoon of 20 May and came upon a badly injured Sheron as well as a bystander who was injured after intervening, according to a report from Military.com. Police arrested Butler a short time later after searching the area.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Ross Garcia, a deputy district attorney, said the violence against Sheron was unprovoked, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbs8.com\/article\/news\/local\/escondido-veteran-trump-yard-display-died-attack\/509-39c285f5-6839-4913-8d67-f43f2fc1c261\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">CBS8<\/a> reported.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cIt was a single punch to the jaw. The victim then falls to the floor, and there are subsequent hits to the victim\u2019s head area, requiring the victim to be transported to the hospital,\u201d Garcia said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Law enforcement have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.times-advocate.com\/articles\/escondido-man-arrested-for-attempted-murder\/\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">told media <\/a>the motive is still under investigation but that investigators do not yet have information suggesting the incident was politically motivated.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Sheron\u2019s family has described it as a \u201cbrutal and unprovoked attack\u201d. The incident has sparked outrage, and Sheron\u2019s wife and some public officials have suggested it was a result of his political beliefs.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Brian Jones, California\u2019s Senate minority leader from San Diego, called Sheron\u2019s death \u201cunconscionable\u201d and said he was \u201cruthlessly murdered\u201d because of his support \u201cfreedom, patriotism, and our president\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cIt was callous and it was evil. To kill an elderly man over his political beliefs is not only heartbreaking, it is un-American to its core,\u201d Jones said in a <a href=\"https:\/\/sr40.senate.ca.gov\/content\/statement-senate-minority-leader-brian-w-jones-passing-army-veteran-kerry-sheron-escondido\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">statement<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/san-diego\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">San Diego<\/a> district attorney\u2019s office said that Butler will return to court on 3 June and is currently in custody without bail.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-print-layout=\"hide\" class=\"dcr-qxqnsy\"><span class=\"dcr-1rq3vad\">Explore more on these topics<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-1dzx48f\">\n<ul class=\"dcr-1rrvs2w\">\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/california\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">California<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/san-diego\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">San Diego<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/west-coast\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">West Coast<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/tone\/news\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">news<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-nu129i\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=California%20veteran%20known%20for%20pro-Trump%20display%20outside%20his%20home%20dies%20after%20assault&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/may\/27\/kerry-sheron-california-trump?CMP=share_btn_url\" class=\"dcr-125qj9d\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-zhx6xs\"><a data-link-name=\"meta-syndication-article\" href=\"https:\/\/syndication.theguardian.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fus-news%2F2026%2Fmay%2F27%2Fkerry-sheron-california-trump&amp;type=article&amp;internalpagecode=us-news\/2026\/may\/27\/kerry-sheron-california-trump\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" title=\"Reuse this content\" class=\"dcr-14rjinq\">Reuse this content<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:right-column\" data-gu-name=\"right-column\" class=\"dcr-1h2hraq\">\n<div class=\"dcr-tn16h9\">\n<section class=\"dcr-1hko8ef\"><\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sheron was attacked outside his house in Escondido on 20 May. Photograph: Scott Olson\/Getty Images View image in<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":3688,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3686","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-world-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3686","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3686"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3686\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3688"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3686"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3686"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3686"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}