Irvine, California – A 46-year-old man from Aliso Viejo was officially charged with murder on Monday in connection with the shooting death of a United Parcel Service driver in Irvine. Rhean Jalipa Fontanoza faces charges of murder with special circumstances, including shooting from a vehicle and murder by lying in wait. Additionally, he is accused of a sentencing enhancement for using a gun that resulted in death.
The victim, identified as 50-year-old UPS driver Expedito Cuesta De Leon, also from Aliso Viejo, was targeted while driving his UPS truck on a street in Irvine around 3 p.m. According to authorities, security camera footage showed a silver Honda Ridgeline, reportedly belonging to the suspect, pulling up next to the victim’s truck. The victim was found shot multiple times and slumped over in the driver’s seat of the work vehicle.
Following the incident, law enforcement located a pickup truck matching the description of the suspect’s vehicle along State Route 261 and Santiago Canyon Road. The suspect, Fontanoza, was apprehended after a standoff. As the investigation continues, police have not yet revealed a motive for the shooting, but they have confirmed that Fontanoza and the victim were acquainted.
UPS released a statement expressing condolences for the loss of their employee, stating that the safety and well-being of their staff is their top priority. The company is offering support and counseling services to employees impacted by the tragic event. Authorities have urged anyone with information on the shooting to contact the police at 949-724-7200.
Fontanoza’s arraignment was scheduled for Monday as he faces serious charges related to the fatal shooting of the UPS driver in Irvine. The community is shaken by the senseless violence that claimed the life of a dedicated worker. As the investigation progresses, more details may emerge about the circumstances surrounding this tragic incident that has left a family mourning the loss of their loved one.