Marcus Anthony Eriz, the man convicted in the road rage shooting that claimed the life of 6-year-old Aiden Leos in 2021, was sentenced to 40 years to life in prison on Friday. The incident, which occurred on a Southern California freeway, has been a stark reminder of the potential deadly consequences of road rage.
Eriz, 26, of Costa Mesa, was found guilty in January of second-degree murder and firing at an occupied vehicle. The jury also upheld allegations of personal use of a handgun. The shooting took place on May 21, 2021, when Aiden was in the back seat of his mother's car, on his way to kindergarten.
The incident began when Eriz's girlfriend, Wynne Lee, cut off Aiden's mother, Joanna Cloonan, on the freeway. Cloonan responded by giving the defendants the middle finger, which led to Eriz firing a shot from a 9mm Glock that struck the Chevrolet, penetrated the passenger compartment, and hit Aiden. The boy died in his mother's arms shortly after.
In a statement before the court, Eriz expressed profound regret for his actions. "I am so sorry for ever hurting him and for the pain that he went through because of me. He never deserved it, and neither did his family," he said. Eriz also acknowledged the ripple effect of his actions, extending apologies to first responders, hospital staff, investigators, legal teams, and his own family.
Superior Court Judge Richard King, while acknowledging Eriz's apology, emphasized the severity of the crime and its impact on the victim's family. He described Aiden as "the most vulnerable victim that you can even imagine," and highlighted the unimaginable experience of Aiden's mother after her son was shot.
Eriz's defense attorney argued that his client was under 25 at the time of the incident, and under California law, people between the ages of 18 and 25 can seek parole at their 15th, 20th, and 25th years of incarceration. However, Judge King stated that he could not connect age as a factor to the crime.
Eriz's girlfriend, Wynne Lee, is awaiting trial for being an accessory after the fact. If convicted on both counts, Lee faces up to three years in state prison and one year in the Orange County Jail.
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