UPS driver killed in California was shot 14 times by childhood friend, authorities say
New details released Tuesday on the deadly ambush attack of a UPS driver in Orange County, California, revealed he was allegedly stalked and killed by a childhood friend.
(KTLA) – New details released Tuesday on the deadly ambush attack of a UPS driver in Orange County, California, revealed he was allegedly stalked and killed by a childhood friend.
The shooting happened on May 16 as the victim, Expedito Cuesta De Leon, 50, from Aliso Viejo, was sitting in his delivery van after dropping off a package at around 3 p.m.
A masked gunman pulled up to De Leon’s van and shot him 14 times in a matter of 19 seconds, according to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.
Police responded to the area in Irvine where De Leon was found with multiple gunshot wounds inside his delivery van. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The suspect, Rhean Jalipa Fontanoza, 46, sped away from the area, authorities said. He was located about an hour later and arrested after a standoff with a SWAT team.
The DA’s Office said the two men, both UPS employees, were childhood friends. They were also neighbors who lived in the same Aliso Viejo community.
On May 16 at around 12:30 p.m., Fontanoza allegedly stopped another UPS driver to ask if a certain route belonged to the victim, police said.
The driver indicated that the victim had another route, prosecutors said, allegedly prompting Fontanoza to visit the UPS Aliso Viejo substation to access a computer showing driver routes, and photograph the information with his cell phone.
At the time, Fontanoza had been on disability leave and was scheduled to return to work on June 1.
Fontanoza is accused of tracking De Leon down on his route just before 3 p.m. Prosecutors said he first drove past De Leon several times in a new vehicle the victim wouldn’t recognize and then waited for De Leon to make a delivery and return to his truck. He then allegedly pulled up alongside the UPS van and opened fire, according to court documents.
“[De Leon] still had his UPS scanner in his hand and his seatbelt buckled when Fontanoza drove next to De Leon’s delivery truck and shot him 14 times in 19 seconds,” according to the DA’s office.
Fontanoza was later found by police in Orange. After refusing to exit his truck, tear gas was thrown in, and a police K9 was deployed. The suspect was eventually dragged out of the truck and arrested, helicopter footage showed.
The motive behind the deadly shooting, along with details surrounding the men's relationship, remain unclear.
"I was in shock," said Rosanna McClanahan, the victim's neighbor. "He was just a really nice guy. He made friends with everybody."
Loved ones who knew De Leon are devastated as they remember him as a kind soul and loving father to two children.
"He had a good heart," said Kimberly Sudan, De Leon's ex-wife. "His biggest joy was for his children. They have both successfully graduated from college, and it was one of the proudest moments of his life — at the graduation seeing his son and daughter. We love and miss him very much."
After serving in the Army for four years, De Leon began working for UPS to provide Sudan with better healthcare benefits as she had Type 1 diabetes.
Fontanoza was charged with one count of murder and special circumstances including a drive-by shooting and lying in wait. He is being held on no bail. If convicted on all charges, he is eligible for the death penalty, prosecutors said.
“Mr. De Leon was just going about his day, doing his job with no idea his longtime friend was stalking him with every intent to kill him,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. “The depravity involved to plot and carry out a plan to execute someone you shared a lifetime of memories is not something any one of us can wrap our heads around. No life should have to end like this and it is a tragedy that should have never happened.”
De Leon is survived by his wife and children.