SANTA ANA, Calif. – A California jury convicted Marcus Anthony Eriz of second-degree murder for the deadly shooting of 6-year-old Aiden Leos during a road rage incident on a freeway in 2021. Along with the murder charge, Eriz was found guilty of causing great bodily injury and death, as well as shooting at an occupied vehicle. He faces the possibility of up to 40 years in prison as the verdict was announced Thursday morning, without any visible reaction from Eriz.
Aiden Leos was tragically killed on May 21, 2021, while his mother, Joanna Cloonan, was driving him to kindergarten. The incident occurred when another car cut off Cloonan, leading to a hand gesture from her. This resulted in the other car slipping in behind her, where someone inside fired a shot through the rear of her car.
After a two-week manhunt, Eriz, now 26 years old, and his girlfriend, Wynne Lee, were arrested in connection with the shooting. While Eriz’s trial has concluded, Lee has a pretrial hearing scheduled for Feb. 9. Investigators alleged that Lee was driving the car when the shooting took place, and Eriz, as the passenger, fired at Cloonan’s vehicle. They both pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against them.
During the trial, the jury deliberated on the key question of Eriz’s intent and state of mind when he fired his weapon at Cloonan’s car, ultimately killing Aiden. The defense attorney argued that it was a spontaneous act with no intent to harm the child, stating that there was no evidence that Eriz even knew a child was in the car at the time of the shooting.
However, Orange County prosecutors contended that regardless of Eriz’s intentions, his actions displayed implied malice that led to the child’s death. Senior deputy district attorney Dan Feldman emphasized the callous disregard for human life displayed by firing at someone over a gesture, resulting in the tragic loss of young Aiden’s life.
Joanna Cloonan’s emotional testimony provided a firsthand account of the heartbreaking events that unfolded on the freeway, describing being surrounded and then realizing the presence of a bullet hole. The trial’s conclusion marks a measure of justice served for Aiden Leos and his family, while the upcoming legal proceedings for Eriz’s girlfriend, Wynne Lee, will continue to unfold in the legal system.