Abba Avrohom Bryski, 35, appeared in court Tuesday as prosecutors revealed new details about the fatal parking lot collision.
The Agoura Hills educator faces felony murder charges after allegedly running down Nicholas Lang, 28, with his Infiniti Q60 coupe outside a Camarillo Costco on Oct. 20. He is also charged with resisting, delaying or obstructing a peace officer.
Emergency crews reached the West Ventura Boulevard gas station just after 8:30 p.m. Following reports that a pedestrian had been struck near the pumps. Lang, who was painting stripes on the pavement at the time, was transported to Ventura County Medical Center but did not survive his injuries.
District Attorney Erik Nasarenko addressed the case in a statement Monday, framing the act as deliberate rather than accidental. “His life was tragically cut short by an individual whose alleged actions demonstrated a shocking disregard for human life,” he said. “We are committed to holding the defendant accountable and pursuing justice for the victim and his loved ones.”
Bryski’s arraignment was continued to Nov. 18. He remains in custody without bail, according to the district attorney’s office.
Jail records identify Bryski as a rabbi and educator, and he is the son of Rabbi Moshe Bryski, who leads the Chabad of the Conejo. The broader Chabad-Lubavitch organization has disputed that the younger Bryski held any official standing within the movement.
Prosecutors have not disclosed whether Bryski and Lang knew each other or what might have motivated the alleged attack. The investigation remains active.
The incident occurred at a retail warehouse scheduled to open Oct. 30, though its attached gas station had been operating since May.
Lang, a Modesto native, is being remembered through an online obituary site where visitors can donate to plant trees through the Arbor Day Foundation. The plantings are designated to help restore forestland destroyed by the 2021 Bootleg Fire, which burned across more than 413,000 acres in southern Oregon.
His wife posted 25 photographs to the site, many showing the couple together. Several images depict Lang carrying a child, while another appears to capture him proposing. Multiple photos show the pair visiting a Disney-themed adventure park.
One memorial contributor wrote: “In loving memory of Nicholas, who will be missed by so many. May this tree grow tall and strong as a living tribute to the beautiful soul that touched so many lives.”
Lang’s death has drawn attention to the circumstances surrounding the new Costco location, where pavement work was still underway ahead of the store’s planned opening.
Bryski’s next court appearance is scheduled for Nov. 18 in Ventura County.