Rhean Jalipa Fontanoza was on incapacity go away from UPS final week when he allegedly tracked down his childhood buddy and co-worker, Expedito De Leon, and shot him 14 occasions as De Leon sat in his supply truck.
Fontanoza, 46, has been charged within the Orange County ambush homicide of De Leon, 50, in keeping with an announcement launched Tuesday by the county district lawyer’s workplace. Each males had been from Aliso Viejo.
Irvine Police Division authorities have beforehand stated the 2 males had been acquainted and suspected that the taking pictures was focused. The district lawyer’s workplace has not uncovered a motive for the killing.
In accordance with the workplace, Fontanoza stopped a UPS driver round 12:30 p.m. Thursday and requested if De Leon shared the route. After he was informed that De Leon drove a unique path, Fontanoza allegedly visited the UPS substation in Aliso Viejo, accessed a pc to view driver routes and took an image on his telephone.
Shortly earlier than 3 p.m., Fontanoza — driving a automobile unfamiliar to De Leon — discovered the supply driver on his route, drove up subsequent to him and, inside seconds, shot him a number of occasions. Authorities stated De Leon had left his automobile to make a supply and was shot after he returned and had buckled his seat belt.
Witnesses informed authorities that the spot the place De Leon was parked was sometimes the place he would cease for his lunch break.
Fontanoza drove away and was later discovered on Santiago Canyon Highway in Orange. When he refused to go away his automobile, authorities stated, police fired tear fuel into his automobile and launched a Okay-9 to attempt to get him out.
“Mr. De Leon was simply going about his day, doing his job with no thought his longtime buddy was stalking him with each intent to kill him,” Orange County Dist. Atty. Todd Spitzer stated in an announcement.
“The depravity concerned to plot and perform a plan to execute somebody you shared a lifetime of recollections [with] shouldn’t be one thing any one in all us can wrap our heads round,” he stated. “No life ought to have to finish like this, and it’s a tragedy that ought to have by no means occurred.”
Fontanoza was scheduled to return from go away on June 1. He’s presently being held with out bail.
