Prosecutors say a California rabbi used his car as a weapon in a Costco parking lot killing, and the murder charge now heads to court.
Story Highlights
- Ventura County prosecutors charged Abba Bryski with murder in a fatal parking lot collision.
- The District Attorney alleges Bryski intentionally struck Nicholas Lang with an Infiniti Q60.
- Witnesses directed deputies to Bryski, who was detained at the scene, according to reports.
- The case spotlights when a car becomes a “deadly weapon” under California law.
Prosecutors File Murder Charge After Costco Parking Lot Death
Ventura County prosecutors charged Agoura Hills resident Abba Bryski with murder after a parking lot collision at a Camarillo Costco left contractor Nicholas Lang dead. The District Attorney said the incident happened on October 20, 2026, as Lang was painting pavement stripes near the gas pumps. The office alleges Bryski drove an Infiniti Q60 coupe at Lang and hit him. Paramedics took Lang to Ventura County Medical Center, where he died from his injuries.
The charging document also alleges personal use of a deadly weapon, based on the vehicle itself. Under California law, a vehicle can be treated as a deadly weapon depending on how it is used. Prosecutors often add that allegation to signal a claim of intent or extreme disregard for life. The District Attorney’s release states the case will proceed in Ventura County court. Bryski faces a maximum sentence defined by California murder statutes if convicted.
What Authorities Say Happened At The Scene
Local news reports say deputies responded to the Costco lot after the collision and found Lang critically hurt. Reporters with the Los Angeles Times and CBS Los Angeles said witnesses pointed deputies to Bryski, who authorities identified as the driver of the involved vehicle. Deputies detained him at or near the scene. CBS Los Angeles reported that the murder charge followed several days later, after investigators presented the case to prosecutors.
The Ventura County District Attorney’s statement provides the clearest official timeline so far: the date, the location, the vehicle, and the allegation of intentional impact. The release does not describe video, speed, or motive evidence in public materials. That level of detail usually emerges in court filings or at a preliminary hearing. For now, the core claim is direct: prosecutors say Bryski aimed his car at Lang and hit him, causing fatal injuries.
Why The Charge Is Murder, Not Vehicular Manslaughter
California law separates fatal driving crimes into distinct categories. Vehicular manslaughter covers deaths tied to negligence or unlawful driving that falls short of murder. Murder requires malice. Prosecutors can argue malice when a driver uses a car in a way likely to kill, or when facts show an intentional strike. State law also allows a “deadly weapon” allegation when an ordinary object, like a car, is used to cause great harm.
The Ventura County filing signals that theory. The office alleges intentional conduct and adds the deadly weapon claim. Courts in California have long held that an automobile can be treated as a deadly weapon based on how it is used. That does not make every fatal crash a murder. It does mean that when the state claims a driver turned a car into a weapon, the case can move under murder statutes instead of manslaughter.
What Comes Next In Court Under President Trump’s Public Safety Push
Ventura County prosecutors will have to present evidence that supports intent, not just a tragic result. That usually includes any video, eyewitness accounts, scene measurements, and expert work on speed, braking, and impact. The court will review the evidence at the charging and preliminary stages. The District Attorney’s office has already put its position on record. The defense will have its chance to respond in filings and hearings as the case advances.
Chabad rabbi arrested on suspicion of murder after fatal Costco collision in California https://t.co/QM03Hezpdr
— Nicholas MOLODYKO, writer (@gold_hadas) October 24, 2026
For many readers, cases like this raise a core principle: equal justice and law and order. Under President Trump, federal leaders have pressed a clear message to back the rule of law and protect workers and families in public spaces. State prosecutors carry these cases day to day. When a car is used to harm, the law must be firm and fair. This case will test evidence on intent and the deadly weapon claim and will set the path toward trial or resolution.
Sources:
nypost.com, latimes.com, jfeed.com
