"We don't want Jews": Man who threatened massacre at California Jewish center to stand trial

A California court ruled this week that there is sufficient evidence to prosecute Paul Dean Andrews, 43, from the city of Lomita, for threatening to carry out a shooting at a Jewish community center in the Los Angeles suburb of Redondo Beach, where hundreds of children are present. This was announced by the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office.

Andrews denies the charges against him, but at the end of a preliminary hearing, the court ordered that he stand trial. He is being held on a $275,000 bond, and if convicted on all charges, he faces more than nine years in prison.

According to the charges, during three days in August, Andrews called the Jewish center several times and made antisemitic statements:

"We don't want Jews in the South Bay. F***ing Jews. Get out of the South Bay."

In one of the calls, he threatened one of the center's managers:

"Get out of the neighborhood. I know where you are. I know you are on Vail Street. I know there are a lot of children there. I will come and open fire at the place."

This is not his first entanglement. In 2023, he was charged with assault with a semi-automatic weapon and gross negligent discharge of a firearm. A judge allowed him to participate in a rehabilitation process and required him to complete a program against prejudice at the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles.

However, instead of completing the program, in May 2024, Andrews called the museum and a local synagogue. In a message to the museum, he said: "You will never be real Americans. All Jews should be hung from trees." He left two messages for the synagogue, stating: "Get the hell out of San Pedro. San Pedro is for Catholics. We don't want Jews in our city."

Following this, the rehabilitation process was revoked, and he was sentenced to 16 months in prison. His probation period ended only last June. The case was investigated by the Redondo Beach Police Department.

"The defendant was given an opportunity to address his prejudices and change his behavior, but chose not to do so," said Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman.