Santa Ana, California – The mother of a 6-year-old boy, who tragically lost his life in a road rage shooting, took the stand in court on Monday to testify about the heartbreaking moments following the incident.
Joanna Cloonan testified in the murder trial of Marcus Eriz, the 26-year-old accused of fatally shooting her son in a car-to-car shooting that occurred on the 55 Freeway in Orange County on May 21, 2021. The shooting reportedly followed a confrontation between the two vehicles.
Eriz has pleaded not guilty to murder and discharging a firearm at a vehicle. He was apprehended after a days-long search for the shooter.
During the trial, a prosecutor told jurors that Eriz callously fired a round that went through the trunk of the car and into the back seat, striking Aiden, who was strapped into a booster seat, in the liver, lung, and heart.
Cloonan recounted the heartbreaking moments when she heard her son say, “Ow,” pulled to the side of the freeway, and flagged down an off-duty police officer. She attempted to stop the bleeding and comfort her son, but tragically, “his body was dying very quickly.”
The trial included a frantic 911 call from Cloonan and testimony from the off-duty officer who assisted her. It was not until the very last question from the prosecution, displaying a photo of a smiling Aiden, that Cloonan broke down in tears.
In the days following the shooting, authorities searched for a suspect and urged the public for help. Eriz and his girlfriend were eventually arrested, and they are being tried separately.
The jury will convene for closing arguments on Wednesday.
The trial has been emotionally challenging for Cloonan, underscoring the devastating impact of the senseless act of violence and the ongoing search for justice.