NEWS RELEASE
DATE: June 3, 2021, 5:00 PM
SUBJECT: Man Arrested For Murder After Road Rage Incident
LOCATION: Pacific Ave. and Mountain View Ave., Oxnard, CA
VICTIM: Lopez, Matias, 52 Year Old, Oxnard Resident
SUSPECT: Codella, Peter, 65 Year Old, Oxnard Resident
CONTACT: Edgar Fernandez, Sergeant
(805) 385-7763 | edgar.fernandez@Oxnardpd.org
On April 23, 2021, at about 3:00 PM, officers from the Oxnard Police Department were dispatched to a call of a possible hit and run of a pedestrian in the area of Pacific Avenue and Mountain View Avenue. Upon arrival, officers located the victim, Matias Lopez lying in the roadway of Pacific Avenue. According to witnesses, Lopez was struck by the suspect vehicle after a verbal altercation took place in the middle of the street. The vehicle then fled the scene prior to officer arrival. Lopez was transported to the hospital for emergency medical treatment.
Unfortunately, on May 6th, 2021, Matias Lopez succumbed to his injuries as a result of the incident and was pronounced dead.
The Oxnard Police Department Major Crimes Unit took over the investigation and continued to work towards uncovering the nature of this incident. Based on evidence obtained, it was determined that this was a road rage incident, where the suspect and the victim had been engaged in a verbal altercation over what seemed to be a minor traffic issue. Lopez was then struck by the vehicle driven by Peter Codella.
During the investigation, facts were uncovered that Codella intentionally struck Lopez. The Oxnard Major Crimes Unit, along with the Ventura County District Attorney’s office worked together to examine this incident and based on the evidence obtained have charged Peter Codella with the death of Matias Lopez. He will be charged with second degree murder and will be held on a bail amount of $500,000.00.
This is the 8th homicide in the City of Oxnard this year.
Investigators are encouraging anyone who may have heard or seen anything to contact Detective Justin Songer (805) 385-7680. Also, anyone with information regarding this case or other criminal activity is encouraged to contact the Oxnard Police Department at (805) 385-7600, or online via the Oxnard Police Department's website:www.oxnardpd.org, and clicking on Report Suspicious Activity. You can remain anonymous if you choose to do so. You can also remain anonymous by calling the Ventura County Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477. You can also visit this site: www.venturacountycrimestoppers.org to submit a tip via text or email.