REDONDO BEACH, CA — A Lomita man accused of threatening to "shoot up" a Jewish community center in Redondo Beach, where prosecutors say hundreds of children were present, has been ordered to stand trial on felony hate crime charges.
Paul Dean Andrews, 43, was held to answer Sept. 1 following a preliminary hearing at the Torrance Courthouse, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.
Andrews has pleaded not guilty to one felony count each of violation of civil rights as a hate crime, making criminal threats to a school and attempted criminal threats. His bail remains set at $275,000.
Prosecutors allege Andrews called the Jewish Community Center in Redondo Beach on Aug. 11 and made antisemitic statements, including saying Jews were not wanted in the South Bay. He allegedly called the center multiple times Aug. 13 and made additional antisemitic statements.
During the final call, prosecutors allege Andrews told an executive he knew the center was on Vail Avenue and knew children were there before threatening to "shoot up the place." Hundreds of children were at the center, according to prosecutors.
The allegations came less than two months after Andrews' parole expired following a previous gun-related felony case in which he had been ordered to complete an anti-bias program.
Andrews was charged in 2023 with one felony count each of assault with a semiautomatic firearm and discharge of a firearm with gross negligence, prosecutors said.
On Feb. 15, 2024, a judge granted Andrews diversion on the negligent-discharge charge and ordered him to complete an anti-bias program through the Museum of Tolerance as a condition.
Prosecutors said that instead of completing the program, Andrews called the Museum of Tolerance and a local Jewish temple several times on May 30, 2024, leaving antisemitic and threatening messages.
The District Attorney's Organized Crime Division subsequently filed misdemeanor charges for harassing phone calls and sought to terminate Andrews' diversion. A judge found Andrews in violation of his diversion agreement Dec. 13, 2024, and sentenced him to 16 months in state prison.
Andrews was later released on parole, which expired June 22 — about seven weeks before the first alleged call to the Redondo Beach center.
"This defendant was given an opportunity to confront his bias and change his behavior after his previous felony case, but instead he chose not to and allegedly threatened to shoot up a Jewish community center," District Attorney Nathan Hochman said.
"Hate crimes have no place in our community," Hochman added. "My office will not tolerate threats motivated by hatred and individuals who choose to engage in hate-driven crimes will be held fully accountable."
The current case was filed Aug. 18 and is being prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Sergei Shubin of the Organized Crime Division, which includes the Hate Crimes Section.
Andrews is scheduled to be arraigned Sept. 16 at the Torrance Courthouse. If convicted as charged, he faces up to nine years and four months in state prison.
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