Ryan Breaux, the younger brother of Grammy award-winning artist Frank Ocean, is believed to have died early Sunday morning in a single-vehicle car crash, reports KCAL 9.
Officers responded to a call of smoke in the Thousand Oaks area around 1:30 a.m. on Sunday. By the time police arrived at the scene, the car was enflamed. The car, which was heading southbound on a curved street, veered off the road and hit a tree in the center median, reports the Thousand Oaks Acorn. The Tesla split in half upon impact, according to Ventura County sheriff’s deputies.
An investigation into the cause of the crash has begun. Police believe speed may have contributed.
“The speed limit is north of 45 mph,” Ventura County Sheriff’s Deputy Wendell Campbell told KTLA. “It’s a nice big stretch of road, so sometimes people do pick up speed.”
Investigators are also looking into whether drugs or alcohol may have been a factor.
Two people were pronounced dead on the scene. The identities of the victims have yet to be confirmed by the coroner’s office, but, friends of the 18-year-old attended a memorial service and said the victims were Breaux and his 20-year-old friend and classmate, Ezekial “Zeek” Bishop, according to KCAL 9. It is unclear which of the men were driving. Both attended Oaks Christian High School and graduated in 2019.
Flowers have been left at the site of the crash. Condolences to Ocean, who was born Christopher Breaux, and their mom Katonya Breaux Riley have poured in on social media.
RIP Ryan Breaux
Sending Frank Ocean and his family all the love ❤️ pic.twitter.com/rzJtAtdO2J— bebe boy (@CalabasasSergio) August 2, 2020
Rest In Peace to Frank Ocean’s little brother, Ryan Breaux. May his soul rest in heaven and my prayers go to Ryan’s family. ????????♥️ pic.twitter.com/ABBF01P5Eo
— mariano ???? (@TheRapAgenda) August 2, 2020
it breaks my heart to hear the news about Frank Ocean’s little brother. Rest in Peace @rryanbreaux
pic.twitter.com/fxoXdnHi38— Odd Future Fans (@itsOddFuture) August 3, 2020
Rest in Paradise Ryan Breaux. We send our love and condolences to Frank to Katonya at this time???? pic.twitter.com/6YVFttG7UF
— Frank (@franktwts) August 2, 2020
Fellow artists posted a number of tributes to Ryan and sent their love to the “Thinkin Bout You” singer.
We both got little brothers …
couldn’t even imagaine ????
Love and condolences to Frank Ocean and his family ????— dvsn ÷ (@dvsn) August 3, 2020
Ezekial’s father, Diijon Bishop, died in a crash back in 2015. The vehicle he was in went over a guardrail on a freeway in the Chatsworth neighborhood. Ezekial, who played football in high school, dedicated his games to his late father.
“I did it for my dad. I played my heart out,” Bishop said after a 2017 game. “That’s exactly what he would have wanted me to do. I know he was here the whole time.”
