Trial In Oxnard Birthday Party Killing Continues After Unusual Ruling

Thursday January 16, 2025

     Trial continues in connection with a fatal shooting at an Oxnard birthday party more than six years ago.

     It happened on July 1, 2018 at a hotel on Solar Drive.

     Now 23-years-old, Jeffrey Perez was celebrating his 17th birthday when he is alleged to have fatally shot 29-year-old Donald Reyes Jr. of Newbury Park.

     Police said the two were involved in an argument.

     Reyes was pronounced dead at the scene from multiple gunshot wounds.

     Police said that Perez fled after the shooting but was ultimately caught and arrested as a juvenile.

     But prosecutors were able to get the OK to try him as an adult.

     On Wednesday an issue came up regarding some prosecution witnesses who were in the courtroom when other prosecution witnesses testified, something judges, including this one, do not allow in most cases.

     To resolve the issue the judge ruled Thursday that those prosecution witnesses who were in the courtroom against the judge's order will be allowed to testify but they cannot cover any ground or refer to anything related to the testimony they heard.

     The trial is in recess until Tuesday.