California Rabbi Charged With Murder After Man Is Fatally Struck by Car at Costco Gas Station

A 35-year-old California man who works as an educator and rabbi has been charged with murder after a 28-year-old man was struck by a vehicle and died following an incident near a Costco gas station in Camarillo, authorities said.

Abba Bryski, of Agoura Hills, was arrested on Tuesday, October 20, after deputies responded to reports of a man being hit by a car in the parking lot near the gas pumps. Witnesses reportedly directed officers to the driver involved in the incident, who was detained at the scene.

The victim, a resident of Modesto, was taken to a nearby hospital but later died. Authorities have not publicly released his name, and investigators have not disclosed what led to the fatal encounter.

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death as a homicide, raising serious questions about the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Emergency Call Leads Deputies to Costco Parking Lot

According to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, deputies received a call at approximately 8:37 p.m. Tuesday reporting that a man had been struck by a vehicle in the Costco parking lot at 437 West Ventura Boulevard.

The location was near the store’s gas pumps in Camarillo, a city in Ventura County, northwest of Los Angeles.

When deputies arrived, witnesses directed them toward the driver believed to be involved. Authorities identified the man as Bryski, 35, and detained him while investigators began examining the incident.

The victim, who was 28 years old and reportedly from Modesto, was transported to a local hospital. Despite the emergency response, he did not survive.

The sheriff’s office later confirmed that Bryski had been arrested and booked into the Ventura County Main Jail on a murder charge.

Although the incident initially involved a report of a pedestrian being struck by a vehicle, investigators are treating the death as a potential criminal homicide rather than simply a traffic accident.

Investigators Examine the Death as a Homicide

Detectives from the Sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau and the Camarillo Investigations Unit responded to investigate what happened.

The Major Crimes Bureau subsequently took responsibility for the case.

Authorities have not explained what happened immediately before the victim was struck, whether the driver and victim knew one another, or whether an argument or confrontation preceded the incident.

Investigators have also not publicly disclosed a possible motive.

The lack of released details means many key questions remain unanswered. Detectives must determine the sequence of events, assess witness accounts and examine available evidence before the circumstances surrounding the death can be fully established.

The decision to investigate the incident as a homicide indicates that authorities are examining the possibility of criminal wrongdoing. However, the murder charge itself does not establish guilt, and the allegations must be addressed through the court process.

Medical Examiner to Determine Cause of Death

The Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office is expected to determine the official cause and manner of the victim’s death.

An investigator from the medical examiner’s office reportedly responded to the hospital and transported the victim for further examination.

That examination is an important part of the investigation because authorities have not yet publicly confirmed the precise medical circumstances of the death.

Officials have not released additional details about the victim’s injuries or whether other factors contributed to his death.

The sheriff’s office has also appealed to members of the public who may have witnessed the incident or possess information that could help detectives reconstruct what happened.

Anyone with relevant information was asked to contact Detective Erik Hernandez at 805-384-4729 or Detective Gerardo Cruz at 805-384-4726.

Suspect Held on $3 Million Bond

According to Law&Crime, Bryski was booked into the Ventura County Main Jail and is being held on $3 million bond.

In addition to murder, he faces a charge of resisting an executive officer, according to jail records cited by the publication.

Law&Crime also reported that Bryski is employed as an educator and a rabbi. Authorities have not indicated that his occupation had any connection to the incident.

He was scheduled to appear in court on Thursday, October 22, according to the report.

The case remains under investigation, and further court proceedings are expected to address the charges against him.

Key Questions Remain Unanswered

The fatal incident has drawn attention because it occurred in a public parking lot near a gas station, where witnesses were present and authorities were able to identify a suspected driver at the scene.

But despite the arrest, the central details remain unclear. Police have not explained what led to the victim being struck, whether the incident was preceded by a dispute, or what evidence prompted investigators to pursue a murder charge.

The victim’s family is now facing the loss of a 28-year-old man, while detectives continue working to establish exactly what happened that evening.

For now, authorities are urging witnesses to come forward as the investigation proceeds. Bryski remains accused of murder and is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

Sources: Law&Crime