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2w ago

Man Sentenced to One Year in Jail for Megaphone Strike That Killed Protester

Prosecutors objected to the June 30 ruling as Jewish groups denounced the sentence as too light.

Marcus, who declined to share his last name, places flowers that he bought at the site where Paul Kessler was killed during an altercation at a rally about Israel, Nov. 7, 2023. (Jacob Gurvis)
Community members prepare to address the media at a growing memorial for Paul Kessler in Thousand Oaks, Calif. on November 7, 2023.
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Overview

  • Loay Abdel Fattah Alnaji struck 69-year-old Paul Kessler with a megaphone during dueling pro‑Palestinian and pro‑Israel demonstrations on Nov. 5, 2023, and the Ventura County medical examiner concluded the blow and subsequent fall caused fatal blunt‑force head injuries.
  • In May 2026 Alnaji pleaded guilty to felony involuntary manslaughter and felony battery causing serious injury and admitted special allegations that he personally inflicted great bodily injury, used a weapon, and that the victim was particularly vulnerable.
  • Ventura County Superior Court Judge Derek Malan sentenced Alnaji on Tuesday, June 30, 2026 to one year in county jail followed by two years of felony probation.
  • The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office formally objected and had sought a state prison term, and Kessler’s widow submitted a victim impact statement describing the family’s grief.
  • The case has intensified debate over charges and sentencing in protest‑related violence, drawn sharp criticism from Jewish advocacy groups, and raised broader concerns about safety and accountability at Israel‑Gaza demonstrations.