The attack happened outside Sheron’s house, which had been the subject of complaints and vandalism for years.
According to NBC 7, Sheron was punched in the jaw once and collapsed to the ground before the suspect beat him many more times in the head. Advertisement A brief search found Butler, who was arrested without incident and charged with attempted murder.
The San Diego County District Attorney’s Office is “reviewing the circumstances to determine whether charges will be amended,” police said.
Deputy District Attorney Ross Garcia described the brutal attack, reportedly by 32-year-old Thomas Caleb Butler
Advertisement The California Post quoted the acquaintance as saying that Butler “sits in his room and thinks everyone is coming to get him” and that his condition was worsened despite treatment.
“This is the guy that plays with Legos and Star Wars stuff,” Butler’s friend reportedly said.
Around 2:15 p.m. on Wednesday, Escondido, California, police officers responded to reports of an assault at the intersection of East Mission Avenue and Buchanan Street, adjacent to the “Trump House.”
A friend of Butler’s said he was a Navy veteran with PTSD
Police said a bystander who interfered during the alleged incident was also injured.
His wife, Maria Garcia, told The Post last week she didn’t expect her husband to survive.
“He tried to kill my husband, you know,” she told CBS 8. “It’s terrible. I don’t know what kind of hate… what heart, the black heart.”
They located a male, later identified as Sheron, “suffering from significant injuries.”
“They don’t like the flags. I don’t know why. I support America. My husband is [a] veteran,” she said.
Owner of iconic pro-Trump 'Trump House' in southern California dead after a stranger allegedly punched him in the jaw, then struck him repeatedly in the head outside his own property.
— Fox News Politics (@foxnewspolitics) May 26, 2026
Kerry Sheron, 69, a U.S. Army veteran, spent years decorating his Escondido home with American… pic.twitter.com/LIPPyZSLAB
The home, known throughout the San Diego area as the “Trump House,” has long been covered in American flags, patriotic decorations, and pro-Trump displays.
For years, the property has attracted both supporters and critics.
Garcia also believed the attack was politically motivated
“They don’t like the flags. I don’t know why. I support America. My husband is [a] veteran,” she said.
Police arrested 32-year-old Thomas Caleb Butler, who has now been charged with attempted murder.
Authorities say Butler fled the scene after the attack but was quickly tracked down and arrested.
Garcia suggested the visible patriotic displays may have fueled hostility
Police also said a bystander who intervened during the violence suffered injuries.
According to the friend, Butler had been medicated for mental illness, but his condition had worsened significantly.
The friend described Butler as increasingly paranoid and unstable.
He is being held without bail at the Vista Detention Facility in San Diego County
The same source said Butler had been unemployed after his time in the Navy.
While police have not publicly declared a motive, Sheron’s home has previously been the target of vandalism and complaints.
That history has fueled immediate speculation that politics may have played a role.