Man shot during an altercation with pro-Israel demonstrators in Newton

A man was shot and seriously injured after an altercation with a small group of pro-Israel demonstrators in Newton Thursday evening, according to the Middlesex District Attorney.

The alleged shooter, Scott Hayes, a 47-year-old from Framingham, appeared in Newton District Court Friday afternoon and pleaded not guilty to a charge of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

Hayes was released on $5,000 cash bail, fitted with a GPS tracker and given a curfew between the hours of 7 p.m. and 6 a.m., allowing him time to go to work. He was ordered to stay out of Newton and away from Caleb Gannon, the man he allegedly shot.

The state has also filed an application for assault charges against Gannon, who was taken to Beth Israel Hospital following the shooting Thursday night. He's expected to survive, according to Ryan.

Speaking at a press conference Thursday night, District Attorney Marian Ryan said words were exchanged between the man and the demonstrators from across a street near the intersection of Washington and Harvard streets, after which the man crossed the street and tackled one of the demonstrators.

“A scuffle ensued. During that scuffle, the individual who had come across the street was shot by a member of the demonstrating group,” Ryan said.

Ryan said authorities believe Hayes, a military veteran, legally owned the gun allegedly used in the incident.

Police in their report said they visited the Newton home of Gannon's father, Joe Gannon. The father told police his son "suffered from mental illness and was believed to be autistic."

He said Caleb Gannon had left the house between 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. to go for a walk, and that his son has been "hyper focused on Hamas."

Andrew Avraham, a Newton resident, told WBUR at the courthouse that he’s familiar with Hayes’ activism, though does not know him personally. Avraham said he has also previously demonstrated in support of Israel.

“We all feel like this could have been one of us,“ said Avraham. “We don't know how we would have reacted in that moment.”

An online crowdfunding effort purportedly created to support the alleged shooter has raised more than $130,000 in just 17 hours. Hayes' attorney said supporters who showed up in court Friday paid his client's bail.

Newton police said the department will provide extra security at houses of worship in Newton over the next few days. Acting Newton Police Chief George McMains asked witnesses to provide investigators with photos or videos of the confrontation.

At the press conference, Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller called the incident "frightening" and asked for "everyone to remain calm" while the police work on the case.

Newton resident Paul Miller said that pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian protests in the neighborhood are common. He said weekly demonstrations take place farther down the street. He said shouting sometimes occurs between opposing protesters, but often the presence of officers helps ensure interactions do not escalate.

Miller called Thursday night's shooting “shocking,” and said it represents the larger political divisions in the country.

“It’s just scary that in this day and age, people’s thoughts are so far apart and America is so divided right now, not just about this, but about everything,” said Miller, who has lived in Newton for more than 20 years. “There’s no gray anymore, it’s either black or white — and now it’s coming to people being shot in Newton."

With reporting from The Associated Press and WBUR's Walter Wuthmann.