In a tragic turn of events, the Orange County District Attorney's office has announced that Marcus Eriz has been found guilty of second-degree murder in the devastating road rage incident that took the life of 6-year-old Aiden Leos. The jury also convicted Eriz on charges of shooting into an occupied vehicle and two felony enhancements related to the use of a firearm causing great bodily injury and death.

Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer expressed relief for Aiden's family, stating, "While we will never know what Aiden would have become, we know that the pursuit of justice did not end until his killer was captured and this child murderer was prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."

The incident occurred on May 21, 2021, when Aiden Leos was fatally shot while sitting in his booster seat as his mother, Joanna Cloonan, was driving him to kindergarten in Yorba Linda. Cloonan testified that a white Volkswagen SportWagen abruptly cut her off on the 55 freeway while she was in the carpool lane. Reacting to the incident, she moved out of the lane and showed her middle finger at the vehicle.

Tragically, someone inside the Volkswagen opened fire through the rear of Cloonan's car, striking Aiden in the back seat. Despite Cloonan's attempts to save her son's life, Aiden succumbed to his injuries.

After an intense manhunt, authorities apprehended Marcus Eriz and his girlfriend, Wynne Lee, at their residence in Costa Mesa, California, on June 6, 2021. Investigations revealed that Lee was driving the vehicle, while Eriz was responsible for the fatal shooting.

Eriz's sentencing is scheduled for April 12, and he faces a potential prison term of 40 years to life. Meanwhile, Lee has been charged with being an accessory after the fact and possessing a concealed firearm in a vehicle. Her pretrial hearing is set for February 9, and she remains free on $100,000 bond under GPS monitoring.

Reflecting on the devastating loss of her son, Joanna Cloonan expressed her desire for justice to be served. In an emotional interview, she stated, "They took my son's life away. He was beautiful and kind and precious, and you killed him for no reason. And I want to find them and I want there to be justice to be served for my son."

During her testimony, Cloonan tearfully recounted the last moments with her son, recalling the sound of a sudden impact and Aiden's cry of pain. Despite her desperate efforts to save him, she realized that her young son was dying rapidly. The trauma deepened when she noticed a bullet hole in the back of her car, confirming the cause of Aiden's tragic passing.

Marcus Eriz admitted that he acted impulsively and irresponsibly, reaching into the backseat of his vehicle, pulling out his gun, and shooting at Cloonan's car, after she showed him and Lee her middle finger. However, he claimed he could not recall if he fired the shot from inside his vehicle or through the passenger door window, and that he did not deliberately aim at the car.

The trial has shed light on the devastating consequences of road rage and the lasting impact it can have on innocent lives. As the verdict brings some closure to Aiden Leos' family, the case stands as a stark reminder of the importance of promoting safe and respectful driving practices on our roads.