Arrests made in road rage shooting murder of six-year-old Aiden Leos
(Updated June 9, 2021) On June 6, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) announced the arrests of the two suspects believed responsible for the shooting death of six-year-old Aiden Leos. CHP arrested Marcus Anthony Eriz, 24, and Wynne Lee, 23, on Sunday at their home in Costa Mesa, California. The boyfriend and his girlfriend, arrested only hours after Aiden was buried, are fully expected to be charged with Aiden’s murder.
Update: On June 8, Marcus Eriz was charged with killing 6-year-old Aiden Leos and is being held on $2 million bail; his girlfriend, Wynne Lee, was charged with being an accessory after the fact and is being held on $500,000. ~ KABC News
“We have recovered what we believe are the weapon and automobile used in the crime,” Assistant Chief Don Goodbrand said. “Information from the public throughout this process has been extremely helpful.” ~ CBS Los Angeles
The arrests follow the May 21 shooting on SR-55 in Orange County. Aiden’s mom, Joanna Cloonan was driving Aiden to his Kindergarten class that morning while the six-year-old was safely secured in his child booster seat in the rear passenger side of the family car. Reportedly, a white Volkswagen station wagon cut Cloonan off while she was driving, in an apparent road rage incident.
With Lee now identified as the driver of the vehicle, her passenger in the Volkswagen, Eriz, is suspected of firing a single gunshot into the rear of Cloonan’s car. That single gunshot entered the rear of Aiden’s child car seat and struck him in the back.
Aiden’s mom said she heard the gunshot and that she then heard her son cry “Ow.” That single gunshot killed the six-year-old.
A massive manhunt for the driver and the occupant of that white Volkswagen had been underway since Aiden’s death as law enforcement encouraged anyone with any information regarding the shooting to contact the California Highway Patrol.
By June 3, the rewards for information leading to Aiden’s murder totaled $500,000. Although CHP is crediting the arrests of Eriz and Lee to the numerous tips received, there’s no word yet if anyone is claiming that reward.
“While these arrests will not ease the pain of a mother’s loss, my hope is for the Leos family to have some peace of mind and to rest assured the CHP will work with the Orange County District Attorney to bring justice for Aiden,” Ray said.
CHP Border Division Chief Watson extended his gratitude to the Orange County community for its “indescribable outpouring of concern and hundreds of tips” that helped investigators find the killers.
“The Department has been in regular contact with the victim’s family and I assure you they, like us, are committed to seeing justice served,” Watson said.
Eriz and Lee are both behind bars, each with bonds of $1 Million. For more on this tragic story, see the video accompanying this article.
(Source: CHP)
(Marcus Anthony Eriz & Wynne Lee, Booking photos, Image credits: Orange County District Attorney’s Office)
Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today / Follow Richard on Facebook and Twitter
