A 69-year-old man known in his hometown of San Diego County as the owner of “Trump’s house” has died from injuries suffered during a brutal beating outside his home.
Kerry George Sheron of Escondido was hospitalized in critical condition Wednesday after being attacked outside his MAGA residence at East Mission Avenue and Buchanan Street around 2 a.m., according to the city’s Police Department. The suspect who attacked Thomas Caleb Butler, 32, fled on foot and was arrested the same day.
Butler was initially charged with attempted murder, aggravated battery resulting in great bodily harm, criminal threatening and battery, according to the San Diego County district attorney’s office. He pleaded not guilty on Friday.
On Sunday evening, Escondido police were notified that Sheron had died from her injuries. The cause of death is pending the county medical examiner’s decision.
The district attorney’s office is reviewing the case and will announce whether another charge of first-degree murder will be filed at Butler’s upcoming trial on June 3, according to a spokeswoman for the office. He is currently being held without bail.
The cause of the attack is unclear. Officials are investigating whether it is related to his home, an area known for its decorations celebrating President Trump — including dozens of American and MAGA flags and posters of Trump putting his fist in the air following the July 2024 assassination attempt in Butler, Penn.
“Currently, detectives are investigating all the causes of the attack, including the possibility that this incident has a political component; however, we have not seen any evidence to support that conclusion,” said Lt. Lee Stewart of Escondido police told The Times on Tuesday. “Detectives also checked whether the suspect and the victim had a relationship or history of contact.”
Sharon’s wife, Maria Garcia, told local TV station NBC7 that her husband was an Army veteran and that they had received threats related to Trump-themed decorations in their home. But he said there have been no incidents of violence in the past.
Detectives are currently looking into previous incidents at Sheron’s home to determine if they are related to the attack, Stewart said.
District Deputy. He said. Ross Garcia described the incident in court as an unprovoked attack in which Butler punched Sheron in the jaw, knocked her to the ground and repeatedly hit her in the head, NBC7 reported.
A bystander tried to intervene and was injured during the attack, police said.
Dozens of people carrying American flags and MAGA gear gathered outside Sharon’s home on Friday to show their support for him and his wife.
“Cowards like this don’t belong in our community,” rally attendee Christine Brown told NBC7, describing the attacker.
“He [Sheron] veteran,” he said, “We need to come and support our veterans. We need to support those who love our country.”
