Suspected murderer of LA Jewish man named

Loay Alnaji, who is suspected in the murder of 69-year-old Paul Kessler, had openly shared pro-Hamas content online, according to numerous media reports.

Chalk drawer Elena Colombo of the Hamakom Synagogue draws a blue star around blood at the exact location on the sidewalk of the alleged assault on Paul Kessler on Sunday in Thousand Oaks, California, U.S., November 7, 2023. (photo credit: MIKE BLAKE/REUTERS)
Chalk drawer Elena Colombo of the Hamakom Synagogue draws a blue star around blood at the exact location on the sidewalk of the alleged assault on Paul Kessler on Sunday in Thousand Oaks, California, U.S., November 7, 2023.
(photo credit: MIKE BLAKE/REUTERS)

Four days ago, the Jerusalem Post reported on an elderly Jewish man murdered by a pro-Palestinian activist in Los Angeles.  The Jewish victim has since been named as 69-year-old Paul Kessler and the main suspect as Loay Alnaji; who has shared pro-Hamas social media posts.

Kessler had been waving an Israeli flag while countering a pro-Palestinian protest in California. A protester proceeded to hit Kessler on the head with a megaphone, which resulted in his death. 

“Upon arrival, responding deputies located Kessler, who was suffering from a head injury.  Witness accounts indicated that Kessler was involved in a physical altercation with counter-protestor(s).  During the altercation, Kessler fell backward and struck his head on the ground. Kessler was transported to an area hospital for advanced medical treatment. On November 6, 2023, Kessler succumbed to his injuries,” the police recorded in their Death Investigation.

The medical examiner ruled his death a homicide.

Chalk drawer Elena Colombo of the Hamakom Synagogue draws a star around blood at the exact location of the alleged assault of Paul Kessler on Sunday in Thousand Oaks, California, U.S., November 7, 2023. (credit: MIKE BLAKE/REUTERS)
Chalk drawer Elena Colombo of the Hamakom Synagogue draws a star around blood at the exact location of the alleged assault of Paul Kessler on Sunday in Thousand Oaks, California, U.S., November 7, 2023. (credit: MIKE BLAKE/REUTERS)

On Tuesday, Ventura County Sheriff Jim Fryhoff said that a 50-year-old had been identified as a suspect in the homicide and that he had been one of the people to contact authorities after the incident.

The Daily Mail, in an exclusive shared by prominent Jewish groups like StopAntisemitism and the Algeimener, identified the suspect as Loay Alnaji. 

No arrests have yet been made known to the public.

Who is Loay Alnaji?

Alnaji teaches computer science at Ventura Community College. He has previously shared pro-Hamas content produced by Shahid King Bolsen.

StopAntisemitism has shared footage alleging that Alnaji had also shared content in support of the Hamas terrorist group.


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The Ventura County Sherriff’s Office said, in a November 6 statement, that they were continuing investigations into the murder and had not ruled out the possibility of a hate crime.

Despite eyewitness statements, the investigators looking into the case have complained that they only have footage from before and after the fatal blow, with no recorded evidence of the attack, according to ABC News. The source also stated that eyewitnesses had offered conflicting accounts of the altercation.

Jonathan Oswaks, who attended the protest with Kessler, told the LA Times about witnessing the violent assault and his frustration over a lack of arrests.

“They had everything right there,” Oswaks said of the deputies. “The suspect was sitting right there on the curb.”