Kerry Sheron, a 69-year-old Army veteran whose Buchanan Street home was known locally for its large display of MAGA banners and American flags, has died nearly a week after authorities say he was beaten in an unprovoked attack outside his residence.
According to reports, Sheron died Sunday night from injuries suffered in the May 20 assault, which left him hospitalized in critical condition with severe head trauma. His wife, Maria, had said earlier that doctors offered little hope for recovery as his condition worsened.
Prosecutors say the attack happened in Sheron’s driveway, where 32-year-old Thomas Caleb Butler, identified as a Navy veteran, allegedly approached him and struck him without provocation.
“It was a single punch to the jaw,” Deputy District Attorney Ross Garcia told the court. “The victim then falls to the floor, and there are subsequent hits to the victim’s head area.”
Security footage captured the confrontation, showing Sheron outside the home before Butler allegedly initiated the assault. A witness tried to intervene before Butler fled on foot. Police arrested him nearby a short time later.
Butler has pleaded not guilty to charges including attempted murder, elder abuse, criminal threats and battery. He remains jailed without bail. Prosecutors have said the charges could be upgraded after Sheron’s death, with a re-arraignment possible this week.
Authorities have not identified a clear motive, and the two men do not appear to have known each other. Sheron’s home, sometimes called the “Trump House,” had reportedly been vandalized before. His wife has suggested the political displays may have made him a target, though investigators have not confirmed a political motive.
In the days after the attack, community members gathered near the home, leaving flowers, signs and flags. Neighbors described the violence as a shocking rupture in a quiet residential area.
Sheron was remembered by those close to him as a proud veteran and patriot. Butler’s family and friends have said he struggled with severe PTSD.
