Lomita man held to answer for felony hate crime threats against Jewish center

Paul Dean Andrews, a 43-year-old man from Lomita, has been held to answer on felony hate crime charges following alleged threats to shoot up a Jewish Community Center (JCC) in Redondo Beach. A judge found sufficient evidence for Andrews to stand trial on counts including violation of civil rights as a hate crime, making criminal threats to a school, and attempted criminal threats.

Prosecutors allege that on August 11 and 13, 2026, Andrews made multiple antisemitic phone calls to the JCC. During one call, he reportedly told an executive that he knew the facility's location and that children were present, stating, “I am going to come up and shoot up the place.”

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman noted that Andrews had previously been granted diversion following a 2023 gun-related felony case, which included an order to complete an anti-bias program through the Museum of Tolerance. However, prosecutors claim Andrews instead targeted the Museum of Tolerance and a Jewish temple with antisemitic slurs and threats in May 2024. Andrews has pleaded not guilty, and his bail is set at $275,000. If convicted, he faces up to nine years and four months in state prison.