By Miriam Raftery
May 26, 2026 (Escondido) – Army veteran Kerry Sheron, 69, proudly displayed American flags and Trump banners outside his Escondido home. Now he is dead of injuries sustained in a savage attack by a fellow veteran who reportedly suffered from PTSD.
Thomas Caleb Butler, 32, the Navy veteran arrested for the assault, is a registered Republican who also supported President Donald Trump, a friend told the California Post. Butler’s family said he was medicated and suffering from debilitating mental illness.
Some have speculated that the attack may have been politically motivated, since Sheron had previously received threats over his displays. But Escondido police Lt. Lee Stewart told the Escondido Times-Advocate, “The possibility of a political motive is being considered as part of the investigation. At this time, however, we do not have information indicating that the crime was politically motivated.”
Police responding to calls about the violent attack on East Mission and Buchanan Street in Escondido, where they found Sheron lying on the ground with severe injuries while a utility worker restrained the attacker. Sheron was reportedly punched in the face, knocked to the ground and repeatedly kicked.
Sheron, who worked as a chef at Escondido Senior Living, died days later in a local hospital. His supporters have left flowers and held prayer vigils outside the residence.
Butler pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted murder, assault and more. He is being held without bail. Now that Sherron has died, the charges are likely to be increase to murder.
Police and Sheron’s widow, Maria Garcia, have both said the two men did not know each other, though Butler lived nearby.
The attack has drawn bipartisan condemnation, the Escondidio Times-Advocate reports..
Escondido Mayoral candidate Elias Valzaquez, a Democrat, said, “No one in our community should suffer physical harm because of what they believe in. Civil discourse, not violence, is how communities move forward together.”
Barry Click, president of the Escondido Republican Club, said, “Violence is a lawless way to settle disputes, political or otherwise. It too often causes irreversible damage.”
Anyone with information on this crime is asked to call the Escondido Police Department at (760)839-4722 or Detective Patrick Hand at (760)839-4985.