VENTURA, California – District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Peter John Codella (DOB 03/05/56), of Oxnard, was charged with the murder of Matias Lopez, of Oxnard. The complaint charges one count of murder with a special allegation that Codella personally used his vehicle as a deadly weapon. Codella was also charged with fleeing the scene of an accident causing death.
On April 23, 2021, at approximately 2:51 p.m., the Oxnard Police Department was dispatched to a vehicle-versus-pedestrian collision that had occurred near the intersection of Pacific Avenue and Mountain View Avenue. The vehicle involved in the collision had fled the scene prior to the arrival of the police. The pedestrian, Mr. Lopez, succumbed to his injuries on May 5, 2021. A subsequent investigation revealed that Codella was the driver of the vehicle.
Codella appeared in court on June 17, 2021, for arraignment. The case was continued to July 22, 2021, at 9:00 a.m. in courtroom 12 of the Ventura County Superior Court. Codella is currently out of custody after posting $500,000 bail.