UC-Berkeley Professor’s Ex-Wife Among 5 Arrested Over His Murder: Reports

Five people have been arrested following the killing of a University of California, Berkeley professor, who was shot and killed in Greece while there for a custody hearing involving his children, according to reports.

Przemyslaw Jeziorski, a native of Poland who taught at the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley, was shot on July 4 in Agia Paraskevi, a suburb of the Greek capital of Athens, Greek outlet Ta Nea reported, citing Hellenic Police’s accounts. 

Polish and American outlets — TVN 24 and ABC 7, respectively — also reported this, citing accounts from Jeziorski’s family members.

UC Berkeley confirmed Jeziorski’s death in a statement to PEOPLE. 

It’s now been reported that five people, including the victim’s 43-year-old ex-wife, have been arrested for the shooting, per Greek national broadcaster ERT and Ta Nea.

ERT noted that Jeziorski’s ex-wife’s current partner, 35, had also been arrested, as well as two Albanians and a Bulgarian.

Greece’s Hellenic Police didn’t immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE for additional information.

Per ERT, Jeziorski’s ex-wife has denied the charges against her. CNN also reported the news, citing his ex-wife’s lawyer.

As previously reported by PEOPLE, a man with his face covered approached the professor and shot him on July 4, per Te Nea. Jeziorski was in Greece for a custody hearing, ABC 7 reported.

The shooting occurred in the vicinity of the home of his ex-wife, who is a Greek economist, per Ta Nea. The outlet further reported that the woman has custody of the children but objected to Jeziorski taking them on vacations in the summer.

He was within feet of his ex-wife’s house at the time of the shooting, on his way for a scheduled visitation with his children, Ta Nea reported.

Seven bullet casings from a 9mm caliber firearm had been found at the scene of the shooting, CNN reported, citing police.

The outlet noted that the victim’s two young children were now in Greek child custody, citing his brother.

Łukasz Jeziorski said in a statement, “Przemek’s 10-year-old children, who are U.S. and Polish citizens, are now under care in accordance with Greek child custody procedures,” per CNN.

“Our primary concern is their safety and well-being, and helping them reconnect with their family to minimize the trauma they have already endured,” the message added, according to the publication.

The statement from the family stated, “Przemek loved his children and fought for them until the end. He paid the heaviest price, unnecessarily, for this.”

“This summer, he wanted to bring his children to his hometown of Gdynia, Poland. This death and the circumstances surrounding it remain impossible for us to accept, but we find some measure of comfort knowing that progress is being made toward justice, and that the kids are about to reunite with their family into a safe environment,” the message continued, per CNN.

Łukasz said that their “family is heartbroken,” but “thankful for the help of the U.S. Consulate in Athens, and the Polish Consulate in Athens, helping care for the well-being of the kids,” the statement said, according to the outlet.

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In an online fundraiser set up to help pay for funeral costs and to transfer Jeziorski’s body to Poland, his brother said Jeziorski was a “loving father” to his two young children and loved teaching.

Zsolt Katona, a fellow professor and colleague at UC Berkeley, condemned the “senseless tragedy.” 

In a statement to PEOPLE through the school, Katona said Jeziorski was “always there if someone needed help.” 

“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,” Katona said, in part. “If there is any consolation in these moments, it’s knowing the lasting impact that he left on so many people’s lives.”