Masked gunman executes Polish academic in broad daylight outside ex-wife’s home as Greek police launch manhunt
A prominent University of California, Berkeley professor was gunned down in a quiet Athens suburb on 4 July in what Greek authorities suspect was a targeted assassination linked to an ongoing child custody dispute.
Przemysław Jeziorski, 43, was shot at least five times in the chest and neck at close range on Eirinis Street in Agia Paraskevi, dying at the scene from multiple gunshot wounds, according to Greek police reports. The Polish-born economist had travelled to Greece to attend a custody hearing concerning his twin 10-year-old sons.
The masked assailant, described by witnesses as a tall, athletic man dressed in black, approached Jeziorski on foot as he walked towards his ex-wife’s residence around 4:15 p.m. local time. The gunman fled the scene immediately after the shooting, with local media reporting a vehicle was waiting nearby.
“This has all the hallmarks of a professional execution,” a source close to the investigation told Greek media, speaking on condition of anonymity. The precision of the attack and the escape route suggest careful planning.
Academic Excellence Cut Short
Jeziorski had served as an associate professor of marketing at Berkeley’s prestigious Haas School of Business for eight years, joining the faculty in 2012. His academic credentials included a doctorate in economics from Stanford University and previous teaching positions at Johns Hopkins University and the University of Arizona.
“I am heartbroken by the tragic and sudden death of Professor Przemysław Jeziorski, a beloved member of our marketing faculty and Haas community,” Dean Jennifer Chatman said in a statement. “While authorities are investigating what happened, our immediate focus is on supporting our community during this difficult period.”
The victim specialised in quantitative marketing, digital advertising, and antitrust issues, with his research published in leading academic journals including Marketing Science and Management Science. He also co-founded Keybee, a technology startup connecting short-term rental property owners with service providers.
Family Torn Apart by Custody Battle
Sources familiar with the case revealed Jeziorski had divorced his Greek ex-wife six years ago after she returned to Greece with their children. The couple, who met whilst both were in the United States, had been embroiled in an ongoing custody dispute over their twin sons.
He was the victim of a terrible crime, and the perpetrator is still at large,” Łukasz Jeziorski wrote on a WhyDonate fundraising page. Our family is heartbroken, and we are doing everything we can to ensure that justice is served.
The victim’s brother disclosed the family had already been grieving their father’s death just one month earlier. We barely started to get over it, and already on 4 July another tragedy occurred,” he posted on social media.
Greek newspaper Zougla reported that Jeziorski’s ex-wife cooperated with police investigators and told officers she was unaware of anyone who would want to harm her former husband. Authorities have not publicly identified her or suggested she is a suspect.
Investigation Intensifies
Greek police have launched a comprehensive manhunt, collecting at least five shell casings from the crime scene and reviewing surveillance footage from the affluent residential neighbourhood. The investigation is focusing on Jeziorski’s personal and family circumstances, with authorities examining whether the killing was connected to the custody proceedings.
Authorities are one step away from identifying key elements that will reveal the killer’s motive,” sources within the Hellenic Police told Greek media outlets. Officials confirmed they were exploring “reasonable suspicions about a specific person from a foreign country.”
The manner of execution has led investigators to consider whether professional criminals were involved. Initial ballistics reports suggested the use of Eastern European weaponry, possibly a Tokarev or Makarov pistol, though these details remain unconfirmed.
No arrests have been made as the investigation continues across multiple jurisdictions, with Greek authorities reportedly liaising with Polish and American law enforcement agencies.
Academic Community Mourns
Colleagues at UC Berkeley described Jeziorski as an exceptional scholar and devoted father whose death has devastated the academic community. Professor Zsolt Katona, a close colleague in the business school, called the killing a “senseless tragedy.
“Przemek was an amazing person, a friend, a colleague. He was a loving father of two young children and always there if someone needed help,” Katona told local media. “He had great influence on the marketing field, not only through his research, but his energetic presence and optimism combined with a healthy dose of skepticism.”
Longtime friend Olga Adamkiewicz, who had known Jeziorski for nearly 40 years, was amongst dozens of colleagues posting tributes on social media platforms.
The victim’s brother has established a crowdfunding campaign to raise €95,000 for legal fees to pursue justice in Greece, Poland, and the United States, as well as to repatriate Jeziorski’s remains to Poland. The fund had raised over €45,000 within days of launching.
Pattern of Violence
The brazen daylight execution has shocked residents of Agia Paraskevi, traditionally considered one of Athens’ safest suburbs. The killing adds to concerns about targeted violence in custody disputes, drawing comparisons to other high-profile cases involving academic professionals.
Greek police statistics show that whilst overall crime rates have declined in recent years, domestic-related violence and custody disputes remain areas of significant concern. The professional nature of Jeziorski’s killing has raised questions about the availability of contract killers in the region.
Law enforcement sources emphasised that the investigation remains active, with detectives pursuing multiple leads. The suspect’s ability to evade capture despite the shooting occurring in broad daylight in a residential area has frustrated investigators.
As the manhunt continues, Jeziorski’s family and the UC Berkeley community await answers about who orchestrated the killing of a scholar described by all who knew him as a brilliant academic and loving father.
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