A California court ruled this week that there is sufficient evidence to prosecute Paul Dean Andrews, 43, of Lomita, for allegedly threatening to carry out a shooting at a Jewish community center in the LA suburb of Redondo Beach, the LA County District Attorney’s Office announced on Thursday.
Andrews has pleaded not guilty to the charges, but following a preliminary hearing, the court ordered that he stand trial. He is being held on $275,000 bail and faces more than nine years in prison if convicted on all charges.
According to prosecutors, over three days in August, Andrews allegedly called the Jewish center multiple times and made antisemitic statements, including: “We don’t want Jews in South Bay. Jews. Get out of South Bay.”
In one of the calls, he allegedly threatened one of the center’s managers, saying: “Get out of the neighborhood. I know where you are. I know you’re on Vail Street. I know there are a lot of children there. I will come and open fire at the place.”
The case is not Andrews’ first criminal offense. In 2023, he was charged with assault with a semi-automatic weapon and the grossly negligent discharge of a firearm. A judge allowed him to enter a rehabilitation program and required him to complete an anti-bias program at the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles.
“The defendant was given an opportunity to confront his prejudices, but chose not to do so,” Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said.
Andrews allegedly targeted Jewish institutions after anti-bias program
Instead of completing the program, Andrews allegedly called the museum and a local synagogue in May 2024. In a message left for the museum, he said: “You will never be real Americans. All Jews should be hanged from trees.”
He also left two messages for the synagogue, saying: “Get the h*** out of San Pedro. San Pedro belongs to Catholics. We don’t want Jews in our city.”
Following the incidents, the rehabilitation process was canceled, and Andrews was sentenced to 16 months in prison. His supervised release ended in June.
The case was investigated by the Redondo Beach Police Department.
