LA County rabbi charged with murder after fatal crash at Ventura County Costco gas pumps
A Los Angeles County rabbi has been charged with murder after a crash near Costco gas pumps in Camarillo that left a 28-year-old man dead on Tuesday.
In a news release, the Ventura County Sheriff's Office said deputies were called to the parking lot of the superstore, which is under construction ahead of its opening later this year, in the 400 block of W. Ventura Boulevard, after learning that a man had been struck by a car.
Upon arrival, witnesses pointed deputies to the suspect, 35-year-old Agoura Hills resident Abba Avroham Bryski, who was detained at the scene. According to arrest records, Bryski is a rabbi and educator, but no place of work was noted.
The victim of the crash, since identified as Nicholas Lang of Modesto, was pronounced dead after being taken to a nearby hospital, deputies said.
"Detectives with the Sheriff's Major Crimes Bureau assumed responsibility for the investigation and are actively investigating the incident as a homicide," the news release said.
Bryski was booked at the Ventura County Jail on one count of murder, according to the news release.
"Bryski is accused of driving his Infiniti Q60 coupe at Nicholas Lang and intentionally hitting him," the Ventura County District Attorney's Office said in a statement. "Lang was in the process of painting stripes on the pavement of the Costco parking lot ... when Bryski allegedly struck him."
On Monday, October 26, Bryski was charged with murder in connection with the incident, as well as allegations that he personally used a deadly weapon to commit the crime. He was also charged with resisting, delaying or obstructing a peace officer.
"This is a devastating and senseless loss of life. The victim was at work, painting lines on a new parking lot, when his life was tragically cut short by an individual whose alleged actions demonstrated a shocking disregard for human life," said Ventura County DA Erik Nasarenko. "We are committed to holding the defendant accountable and pursuing justice for the victim and his loved ones."
Anyone who knows more was urged to contact Detective Erik Hernandez at 805-384-4729 or Detective Gerardo Cruz at 805-384-4726.
