Suspect arrested for Paul Kessler’s death
Officials with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office announced a suspect was arrested in connection to a Jewish man’s death who died after dueling pro-Israel and pro-Palestine protest in Thousand Oaks
The sheriff’s office named 50-year-old Loay Alnaji, of Moorpark, as a suspect in the investigation. He was booked at the Ventura County Pre-Trail Detention Facility for involuntary manslaughter and his bail was set at $1,000,000.
On Sunday, Nov. 5, the sheriff’s office was called to the intersection of Thousand Oaks and Westlake boulevards regarding the possible assault of an unconscious man. The callers stated the incident was related to a rally and videos posted to social media showed pro-Israel and pro-Palestine protesters. When reviewing the videos, investigators determined there were between 75 and 100 people at the protest.
Ventura County Sheriff Jim Fryhoff said deputies determined Kessler had fallen backward and struck his head on the ground at the pro-Palestinian demonstration.
The Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office determined Kessler’s cause of death as blunt force trauma to the head and ruled the matter of death as homicide.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Altercation at rally leaves Jewish man dead
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Officials determined 69-year-old Paul Kessler’s cause of death as blunt force trauma to the head and ruled the matter of death as homicide.
Now, it appears that the same caller has been arrested in the investigation.
The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles released the following statement Thursday in regards to the arrest:
Sheriff’s officials are also asking people who were in the area of Westlake and Thousand Oaks boulevards between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 5 to submit their video footage to investigators. Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Ventura County Crime Stoppers.
