The man arrested in the death of 69-year-old Paul Kessler in Thousand Oaks was charged with two felony counts, Ventura County officials said.
Loay Abdelfattah Alnaji, 50, was charged with involuntary manslaughter and battery causing serious bodily injury, Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko said during a press conference Friday morning.
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“Accompanying each of these felony counts is a special allegation that in the commission of those crimes, the defendant personally inflicted great bodily injury upon Paul Kessler,” Nasarenko said.
Nasarenko added that a hate crime charge has not been filed at this time, but added that the investigation is ongoing.
Ventura County Sheriff James Fryhoff said the sheriff’s office spent 2,000 hours in the investigation, overseeing 600 pieces of evidence and interviewing dozens of witnesses.
On Nov. 5, Ventura County deputies responded to calls of battery at Westlake Boulevard and Thousand Oaks Boulevard, where Pro-Israeli/Pro-Palestinian demonstrations were taking place.
A report by deputies revealed that Kessler was involved in an altercation with pro-Palestine demonstrators when the 69-year-old “fell backward and struck his head on the ground.”
Kessler was taken to the hospital. He died from his injuries on Nov. 6, Alnaji was subsequently arrested Thursday morning.
Officials said Anlanji is scheduled to be arraigned on Friday.
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