The man suspected of gunning down a 6-year-old boy in an act of road rage was charged with murder on June 8, authorities said.
Aiden Leos was killed on May 21 on his way to kindergarten when the car he was riding in was shot on the 55 Freeway in Orange, California. His mother, who was driving the car, is believed to have been the target of an irate passenger traveling behind her in a Volkswagen SportWagen.
Police spent weeks investigating tips and scouring surveillance footage before arresting and charging Marcus Anthony Eriz with murder and the enhancement of discharging a firearm causing death.
Wynne Lee, who authorities believe was driving the car, was charged with accessory after the fact. She was also charged with the misdemeanor of possession of a concealed firearm in her vehicle.
“He was the one that fired the firearm. She’s the driver of the vehicle,” Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said during a June 8 press conference. “Based upon our review of the evidence, we did not believe we could also file murder charges as against her at this time.”
Eriz was booked on $1 million bail, but the district attorney’s office was requesting that it be raised to $2 million. If convicted of both charges, he is expected to spend most of his life in prison, Spitzer said.
The district attorney’s office is requesting Lee’s bail be set at $500,000.
Spitzer said Lee will face three years in state prison plus one year in county jail if convicted of both charges. If convicted, Eriz could spend 40 years to life in prison.
“The case against both of them, we would not file any of these charges if we could not prove them beyond a reasonable doubt,” Spitzer said. “With respect to the charges against both, I absolutely am convinced they’re rock solid.”
The couple was arrested at a Costa Mesa residence on June 6.
Supervisor Katrina Foley said, “In a civilized community, we should be able to drive our kid to school and not worry that they’re going to be shot in the back.”
