SANTA PAULA : Man Charged With Murder in Shooting
Prosecutors Tuesday charged a Santa Paula man with murder and attempted murder for allegedly shooting one man to death and wounding two others after they had spoken with his girlfriend.
David Chavarria Lopez, 39, who was released from state prison six weeks ago, is accused of killing Pedro Cervera and wounding Miguel Gaxiola and Raul Gaxiola on Oct. 25, after firing four to six times into the van that the three men occupied outside the Mountain View Motel in Santa Paula.
All three victims were construction workers from Palmdale, who were working on a project in Santa Paula. Lopez was arrested shortly after the shooting.
Cervera, 28, died en route to Santa Paula Hospital. The other two, both 35, were treated for their injuries and released.
Police said Lopez’s girlfriend told them that Lopez had become enraged that the victims had been talking to her earlier in the evening.
Lopez was also charged with inflicting great bodily injury on his victims and using a firearm in the commission of a crime.
He was released from prison Sept. 21 after serving a sentence for drug and stolen property convictions, a prison official said.
Lopez remained at Ventura County Jail in lieu of $250,000 bail. His arraignment is set for Monday in Municipal Court.
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