UPS driver shot dead by childhood friend on delivery route, California officials say
A UPS driver was fatally shot by a childhood friend while the driver sat in a delivery truck on his route, California prosecutors say.
Rhean Jalipa Fontanoza, 46, was charged with special circumstance murder after he was accused of “ambushing” and fatally shooting Expedito De Leon, 50, in Irvine on May 16, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office said in a May 21 news release.
In an emailed statement to McClatchy News, a UPS spokesperson said the company was “shocked and saddened” by the shooting.
“These are highly unusual circumstances and do not represent the culture of our company and the camaraderie among our employees around the world,” the spokesperson said. “Our focus now is on supporting our people and their loved ones during this extremely difficult time.”
Attorneys representing Fontanoza did not immediately respond to McClatchy News’ request for comment May 22.
On the day of the shooting, prosecutors said, Fontanoza stopped a UPS driver at about 12:30 p.m.
Fontanoza, a UPS employee out on disability leave through May, asked the driver if the route they were working was De Leon’s route, according to prosecutors.
When the driver told Fontanoza that De Leon worked a different route, prosecutors said Fontanoza went to the UPS Aliso Viejo substation.
There, “he was seen accessing a computer that shows driver routes and taking a picture with his phone,” prosecutors said.
Fontanoza then tracked De Leon on his route, prosecutors said.
Shortly before 3 p.m., De Leon made his way back to his truck after a delivery, buckled his seat belt, scanner in hand, when Fontanoza drove next to him and fired at him 14 times in 19 seconds, according to prosecutors.
De Leon was struck by gunfire 10 times, prosecutors said.
After reports of gunfire, Irvine police said they found “a UPS driver slumped over in the driver’s seat of his delivery truck,” according to a May 17 Facebook post from the department.
Police said officers pulled De Leon from the truck and “began life saving measures,” but he died from his gunshot wounds, according to police.
Following the shooting, prosecutors said Fontanoza fled the scene.
Police said they issued “a countywide broadcast,” and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department found a vehicle matching that of the suspect’s shortly before 4 p.m.
Fontanoza, who initially refused to leave his vehicle, was arrested “after police deployed a police K9 and tear gas into the vehicle,” prosecutors said.
Authorities are still investigating a motive behind the fatal shooting, according to prosecutors.
“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,” District Attorney Todd Spitzer said in the release. “No life should have to end like this and it is a tragedy that should have never happened.”
If convicted, prosecutors said Fontanoza, who is being held without bail, could face the death penalty.
This story was originally published May 22, 2024 at 10:04 AM.
