Pro-Palestinian protester arrested in death of Jewish man Paul Kessler

Police have arrested a pro-Palestinian California college professor in the death of Jewish man Paul Kessler at concurrent pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian demonstrations on Nov. 5.

Loay Abdelfattah Alnaji, 50, was taken into custody on Thursday, charged with involuntary manslaughter and incarcerated at Ventura County Jail on $1,000,000 bail, per a Ventura County Sheriff's Department press release.

"We're not providing any additional information at this moment in time, however there will be additional information released later today," Sgt. Rob Yoos told Fox News Digital on Thursday morning.

Investigators with the department allege that Alnaji caused Kessler, a 69-year-old pro-Israel protester, to knock his head onto the concrete when he fell, which resulted in brain hemorrhaging that would kill him hours later in the hospital.

Although police previously obtained a warrant to search Alnaji's vehicle and home in Moorpark on Nov. 6, detaining the then-suspect for about two hours, they had insufficient evidence to carry out an arrest.

It is unclear what new evidence led to Alnaji's arrest. In the weeks preceding his arrest, some witnesses have told Fox News Digital that the pro-Palestinian protester struck Kessler with his megaphone. An autopsy carried out by Ventura County Medical Examiner Christopher Young showed minor abrasions to the left side of Kessler's mouth in addition to the brain swelling and bruising that killed him.

The department wrote that they are still crowdsourcing photos and video from 3 and 4 p.m. at the intersections of Westlake and Thousand Oaks Boulevards, and offering a $1,000 reward for any pertinent footage or information.

Alnaji is a full-time professor teaching computer science at Ventura County Community College's Moorpark campus. The school did not immediately return Fox News Digital's request for comment.

He was born in Kuwait, according to the Ventura County District Attorney's office. His citizenship status is not currently clear.

Alnaji has taught college students since 2003 and holds bachelor's and master's degrees in computer science and a doctorate in business administration, per his since-removed faculty page and linked YouTube introduction that has since been removed.... (Read more)

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