Professor Charged with Involuntary Manslaughter of Jewish Protester

Manslaughter of Jewish Protester

A 50-year-old professor at Moorpark College was charged Thursday with involuntary manslaughter and battery in connection with the death of Paul Kessler, 69, a Jewish protester during a Nov. 5 demonstration over the Israel-Hamas war.

Loay Abdelfattah Alnaji of Moorpark was arrested and charged Thursday with involuntary manslaughter and battery causing "great bodily injury," County DA's office. "Both charges have special allegations that Alnaji personally inflicted great bodily injury," the DA said.

Alnaji is being held at Ventura County Jail and is scheduled to appear in court on Monday.

Kessler was among a group of pro-Israel demonstrators who showed up at the Nov. 5 rally in Thousand Oaks that was advertised as a peaceful gathering to support Palestinians, officials said. About 75 people attended the demonstration and police patrols in the area reported seeing no indication of violence 15 minutes before the altercation happened.

According to authorities, Kessler was involved in an altercation with pro-Palestinian demonstrators when he was injured. He fell and hit his head on the ground. He died from "a severe head injury," police said.

 

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