Marcus Eriz: California man who fatally shot boy, 6, in road rage gets 40 years to life in prison
Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.
ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA: Marcus Anthony Eriz, a 27-year-old man, was sentenced to 40 years to life in prison on Friday, April 12, for the road rage murder of a six-year-old boy, Aiden Leos, on a California freeway in 2021.
Eriz, who was convicted in January 2024, broke into tears following the sentencing in the Orange County Superior Court court and made an apology to the family stating that neither Aiden nor his family deserved this.
Aiden Leos' mother, Joanna Cloonan, showed Marcus Eriz the middle finger after he cut her off
In May 2021, Aiden Leos was being taken to kindergarten on Freeway 55 in Orange County when his mother, Joanna Cloonan, was cut off by a white Volkswagen SportWagen in the carpool lane.
Eriz's girlfriend Wynne Lee, according to Cloonan's testimony responded with a "peace sign," to which Cloonan responded by showing the middle finger.
Eriz then reportedly made eye contact with her and according to Cloonan, "He looked at me and smiled after the gesture."
Moments later, she heard a loud noise and found her son crying and slumped on the seat injured. She immediately dialed 911.
Despite efforts by an off-duty officer and paramedics, Aiden, who had turned six just ten days before, died at the hospital from injuries to his liver, lung, and heart caused by a bullet from Eriz’s gun which had pierced through the trunk of her Chevrolet Sonic.
Marcus Eriz's trial and conviction
Eriz was convicted by a jury of second-degree murder and shooting at an occupied motor vehicle in January 2024.
He confessed to the shooting soon after his arrest stating, "I don’t know why, I have no answer why, but I pulled out my Glock and pulled the trigger and it was gone."
While being pressed about the motive he said, “I don’t have an answer. Because I’m stupid? I didn’t think of the consequences or anyone.”
Eriz and his girlfriend, Wynne Lee, did not surrender for two weeks, during which they hid their car and altered Eriz’s appearance.
They were eventually arrested at their home in Costa Mesa following tips from the public and an enhanced photo of their car’s license plate.
Eriz, an autoworker, claimed he didn’t know he was accused of murder until a week later. This realization came when a co-worker mentioned that his girlfriend’s car looked like the one the police were searching for.
The other reason for him not to surrender was that he thought Lee was innocent.
Marcus Eriz's sentencing and apology
During the sentencing in the Orange County Superior Court, Eriz addressed Aiden’s family in a tearful apology.
“I would like to start by saying that Aiden looked like a beautiful, precious, sweet, and happy little boy,” he said, according to Daily Mail.
“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 further said in his apology.
Judge says calls late schoolboy Aiden Leos 'the most vulnerable victim'
Judge Richard King, while announcing the 40 years to life in prison sentence, called Aiden "the most vulnerable victim" and highlighted the power Eriz wielded with his handgun at that moment.
"Whether it was to impress your girlfriend to release your anger, you fired and that little boy died. When all is said and done, that’s what happened," the Judge added.
Judge King also stated that he saw no "justification" for Eriz's manner of response. He expressed that the autoworker's actions were simply an attempt to "get back" at Aiden's mother.
"I don't think the English language can even attempt for anybody to even describe what Aiden's mother went through," Judge said. "She pulls over and her little boy dies in her arms. I don't think anybody can even comprehend what the rest of her life is going to be."
