Man charged in fatal shooting of UPS driver worked for the same company as victim

Publish date: 2024-09-21

IRVINE, Calif. (TND) — The man accused in the slaying of a UPS driver in California was charged with "special circumstance murder."

Rhean Jalipa Fontanoza, 46, was charged in the shooting death of Expedito Cuesta De Leon, Fontanoza's "childhood friend" and "coworker."

The 50-year-old man who worked for UPS was killed inside his delivery truck on Thursday, May 16, according to Irvine police. Police found De Leon dead, still with the seatbelt buckled, slumped over in the driver’s seat.

The murder suspect also worked for UPS, according to the Orange County District Attorney's Office. District Attorney Todd Spitzer's Office noted in a news release that Fontanoza, a UPS employee, was on work disability at the time of De Leon's death.

Officials claim that Fontanoza "tracked down" De Leon on his delivery route before shooting him "14 times" in "19 seconds."

Investigators learned that on the day of the shooting Fontanoza stopped another UPS driver around 12:30 p.m. asking about De Leon's delivery route.

Fontanoza then went to the UPS substation in Aliso Viejo . He we seen using a computer that shows drivers' routes to "track down' De Leon. He allegedly photographed the computer screen with his phone.

De Leon was sitting in his delivery truck when a vehicle, described as the suspect vehicle, pulled up and then fled the scene in an area at an industrial park in Irvine.

Prosecutors allege that the suspect used a new vehicle so De Leon wouldn't recognize Fontanoza.

De Leon had just returned to his delivery truck after making a delivery when he was killed, according to the release.

Surveillance footage captured the silver Honda Ridgeline 4-door truck that Fontanoza was in at the scene.

Hours after the deadly shooting, Fontanoza was taken into police custody after a SWAT standoff on Santiago Canyon Road.

Police officers shot "tear gas" and "deployed a police K9" into the pickup truck that Fontanoza was in. Fontanoza was reportedly injured during the standoff and taken to a hospital.

The motive of the killing was not provided.

Fontanoza was arraigned Tuesday morning, a police spokesperson told The National Desk.

He's being held in jail without bail.

According to Spitzer, Fontanoza is eligible for the death penalty if convicted.

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 anyone 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.

UPS released a statement about Fontanoza saying its hearts "are heavy with the news of the loss of one of our drivers in Irvine."

"The safety and well-being of our employees is our top priority, and we are providing support and counseling services to our employees affected by this tragedy," UPS' statement read.

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