A 50-year-old Moorpark man was arrested Thursday, Nov. 16, on suspicion of involuntary manslaughter related to the fatal injury of a 69-year-old Jewish man who apparently fell backward with his head striking the ground during dueling pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian demonstrations earlier this month in Thousand Oaks.
Loay Abdelfattah Alnaji was to be booked into jail and held in lieu of $1 million bail, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department said. Prosecutors are finalizing their review of the evidence and expect a filing decision regarding criminal charges later in the day, according to the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office.
The death of Paul Kessler drew national headlines as it came in the midst of rising tension in Southern California over the Israel-Hamas war.
Kessler died after a confrontation during competing pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian demonstrations involving around 75 to 100 people at the Westlake Boulevard and Thousand Oaks Boulevard intersection on Sunday, Nov. 5 in Thousand Oaks. He was found suffering from a head injury and bleeding from his head and mouth after apparently falling backward and striking his head on the ground following a physical confrontation with at least one other protestor.
But the exact details of what happened prior to his fatal fall remained unclear, as witnesses reportedly provided conflicting statements to authorities. The Ventura County Medical Examiner quickly determined that Kessler died from a blunt-force head injury and deemed it a homicide. But that initial finding only meant that the actions of another individual contributed to his death, not that it was necessarily the result of a criminal act.
Alnaji — described by authorities at the time only as a “50-year-old Moorpark man who was a pro-Palestinian demonstrator — reportedly remained at the scene of the confrontation and cooperated with authorities. He was detained for several hours the day after the demonstration as deputies searched his residence, but at that time was not arrested.
The Ventura County DA Office indicated that they have been in “daily consultation” with sheriff’s investigators leading up to the arrest. That police investigation remains ongoing.
Leaders of the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles said they were “grateful for the swift work of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department…
“This arrest shows that violence towards our Jewish community will not be tolerated,” the organization said in a written statement. “We will continue to monitor the case to help ensure justice is served. Our heartfelt condolences continue to be with the family of Paul Kessler and may his memory forever be a blessing.”
The Jewish Federation previously alleged that Kessler was struck in the head by a megaphone held by a pro-Palestinian protestor. Sheriff’s officials have neither confirmed nor denied that allegation.
Jonathan Oswaks, a Thousand Oaks resident who was at the counter-protest to support Israel, previously told a Southern California News Group reporter that a man with a megaphone had yelled into his ear before later punching someone with the mouth with the speaker. It has not been confirmed whether that man was Alnaji.
Alnaji, a professor of computer science at Moorpark College, was placed on administrative leave following his arrest, according to a statement from the Ventura County Community College District.
District officials added that “necessary protocols have been taken to ensure the safety and well-being of our students, faculty and staff, which will remain our top priority.”
On RateMyProfessors.com, which allows students to comment on their college teachers, Alnaji was given an overall 2.6 rating out of a possible 5.
He was described as an overly hard, but affable teacher.
“He can be nice but his assignments are way too far above a student learning level. It’s not even worthy of being called a challenge,” one reviewer said.
“Easily one of the most confusing professors I’ve ever had,” said another.
Alnaji was said to give scores of only 100 or zero, nothing in between.
Said one student: “He’s really nice, but is super tough.”
After Kessler’s death, purported students left macabre messages that have since been erased.
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On Thursday, authorities asked that anyone driving in the area of the confrontation in a car with video-recording equipment between 3 and 4 p.m. to contact them. If a witness wants to remain anonymous, he or she can contact Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.