A California professor has been shot and killed in Greece by a masked gunman in a horrific broad daylight execution.
Przemyslaw Jeziorski, a Polish native, was shot five times in the chest and neck at close range while in the country for a custody hearing on July 4.
The UC Berkeley business professor, who’s worked at the Haas School of Business for eight years, was shot near his ex-wife’s home in the suburb of Athens.
Jeziorski, 43, died at the scene while the suspect fled on foot, police said.
The shooter has been described by witnesses as a tall man with an athletic build.
Greek police are actively investigating Jeziorski’s death and trying to hunt down the suspect.
He was fatally shot outside a home where his ex-wife and two children live. He was there to attend a child custody hearing, ABC 7 News reported.
Jeziorski’s ex-wife, who met him in the US, returned to Greece six years ago after their divorce, her lawyer told Ta Nea daily.
She worked with investigators and gave a statement to police, the outlet reported.
His former wife also told Zougla newspaper that she did not know of anyone who would want to harm him.
Haunting footage, obtained by Ta Nea daily, showed a car waiting for the shooter near the scene.
Jeziorski’s brother paid tribute to him on WhyDonate – the European version of GoFundMe.
‘Our family is heartbroken, and we are doing everything we can to ensure that justice is served,’ Łukasz Jeziorski wrote.
‘To pursue legal action and support ongoing investigations, I have secured legal representation in Greece and will also need support for future legal processes in Poland and the United States.
‘These efforts come with significant and urgent costs that my mother and I cannot manage on our own.’
He remembered his brother as ‘a loving father’ and ‘beloved professor.’
‘He was a leading scholar in marketing science, industrial organization and data analytics. He loved teaching and sharing his passion for the intricacies of marketing analytics and marketing science with his students.’
As of Monday morning, nearly €49,668, or more than $58,000, was raised to help the family.
A colleague of his, Zsolt Katona, also paid tribute to the late professor.
‘It is with incredible sadness that I share the news that our beloved colleague, Przemyslaw (Przemek) Jeziorski passed away last Friday while traveling in Greece,’ Katona wrote.
‘The Marketing Group and the entire Haas Community are mourning this tragic loss. I wanted to share this picture that is so characteristic of him, I will never forget his mischievous smile.
‘Rest in Peace, Przemek.’
Berkeley Haas Dean Jennifer Chatman also released a statement following his tragic death.
‘We are heartbroken by news of the tragic and sudden death of Professor Przemyslaw Jeziorski, a beloved member of our marketing faculty and Haas community,’ she told ABC 7 News.
‘While authorities are investigating what happened, our focus is on supporting our community during this difficult period. My heart goes out to Przemek’s family and loved ones. We will miss him,’ she added.
Jeziorski studied at the SGH Warsaw School of Economics, the University of Chicago, the University of Arizona and Stanford University, according to his website.
He previously taught at Johns Hopkins University and was a research intern at Microsoft as well.
He was also a co-founder of Keybee, a start-up for UC Berkeley’s Skydesk, ‘that provides a data-driven solution to managing thousands of short-term rentals.’
Jeziorski also consulted with many big-name companies, including Microsoft, Mastercard, MIC Tanzania, and more.
He lived in a $830,000 one-bedroom, one-bathroom high-rise condo in San Francisco, according to public records.
