Marcus Anthony Eriz is a man from California who was found guilty of second-degree murder in a road rage incident that resulted in the death of a 6-year-old boy named Aiden Leos. The incident occurred on May 21, 2021, when Eriz, angered by a gesture from Aiden's mother after a traffic altercation, fired a shot at her car. The bullet struck Aiden, who was sitting in a car seat in the back. Eriz was arrested on June 6, 2021, along with his girlfriend, Wynne Lee, who was driving their car at the time of the incident. Lee was charged with being an accessory after the fact and possessing a concealed firearm in a vehicle. In January 2024, Eriz was convicted of second-degree murder, shooting into an occupied vehicle, and two felony enhancements of the personal discharge of a firearm causing great bodily injury and death. He was sentenced to 40 years to life in prison on April 13, 2024.
Marcus Eriz. Autographed Letter, Signed. Handwritten, Commercial #10 (4.125 × 9.5 envelope). N.p. N.d. Content unknown. SEALED.
Marcus Anthony Eriz was found guilty of second-degree murder in the road rage shooting that resulted in the death of 6-year-old Aiden Leos in 2021. He was convicted of shooting into an occupied vehicle and two felony enhancements of the personal discharge of a firearm causing great bodily injury and death. Eriz was sentenced to 40 years to life in prison. The incident occurred when Aiden Leos was being driven to kindergarten by his mother on the 55 Freeway in California. After a road altercation, Eriz, who was a passenger in another vehicle, fired a shot that struck and killed Aiden.
The motive behind the shooting of 6-year-old Aiden Leos by Marcus Anthony Eriz was a fit of road rage. According to reports, the incident occurred after Aiden's mother, Joanna Cloonan, gestured with her middle finger at the driver of a Volkswagen who had cut her off on the freeway. In response, Eriz, who was a passenger in the Volkswagen, fired a gunshot that tragically hit Aiden. The act was described as a display of anger and an impulsive decision without consideration of the consequences.
During the sentencing of Marcus Anthony Eriz, several factors were considered:
Severity of the Crime: The judge cited the severity of the crime as a significant factor, given the tragic outcome of the road rage incident.
Lack of Mitigating Factors: There were no mitigating factors that could justify a lesser sentence.
Eriz's Age: The defense requested the judge to consider Eriz's age at the time of the crime, which was 27 years old.
Childhood Trauma: A doctor's report discussing Eriz's claim of childhood trauma was presented, but the judge denied the request to consider it as a mitigating factor.
Gun-Related Enhancements: The defense asked the judge to dismiss the gun-related enhancements based on a state law, but this request was also denied.
Maximum Sentence: Ultimately, the judge sentenced Eriz to the maximum possible term of 40 years to life.
These factors contributed to the decision to impose a strict sentence, reflecting the gravity of the crime and its impact on the community.
During the trial and sentencing, Marcus Anthony Eriz expressed remorse for his actions. He apologized to Aiden Leos' family, acknowledging the pain he had caused. In an emotional statement, Eriz referred to Aiden as "truly one of God's little angels" and said he was "so sorry for ever hurting him, and for the pain that he went through because of me." He also offered a prayer for both Leos’ family and for his own forgiveness.
Wynne Lee is a woman from Costa Mesa, California, who was involved in the same road rage incident as Marcus Anthony Eriz. She was driving the car when Eriz fired a shot at another vehicle, resulting in the death of a 6-year-old boy named Aiden Leos. Lee was charged with accessory after the fact and possessing a concealed firearm in a vehicle. She was released on bail after her bail was reduced from $500,000 to $100,000. As part of her bail conditions, she was required to surrender her passport, not allowed to drive or leave the state without permission, and had no contact with Eriz. She was also under GPS monitoring. On April 26, 2024, Lee pleaded guilty to one felony count of accessory after the fact and one misdemeanor count of having a concealed firearm in a vehicle. She was sentenced to four years, which she had already served in home confinement with an ankle monitor.
VIDEO: Marcus Eriz sentenced to 40 years to life, handcuffed and taken away | https://youtu.be/0csLaW-WYbc
Archiving Protocol:
• Handled with White Gloves ab initio
• Photo Pages/Sheet Protectors: Heavyweight Clear Sheet Protectors, Acid Free & Archival Safe, 8.5 × 11, Top Load
• White Backing Board—Acid Free
Shipping/Packaging: Rigid Mailer 9.5 × 12.5. White, self seal, stay flat, kraft cardboard, no bend. Each rigid mailer is made of heavy cardboard, which has strong resistance to bending and tearing. Thicker that the USPS mailers. Shipping cost never more than it absolutely has to be to get it from me to you.