A UPS driver was fatally shot in Irvine, California, in what authorities are calling a targeted attack. Expedito Cuesta De Leon, 50, was ambushed and shot 14 times by his childhood friend and coworker, Rhean Jalipa Fontanoza.
De Leon was on his delivery route on May 16, 2024, when the incident occurred. The Orange County District Attorney’s Office reported that Fontanoza, 46, waited for De Leon near the Chrysler and Bendix intersection in the Irvine Industrial Complex. At approximately 3 p.m., Fontanoza allegedly pulled up alongside De Leon’s UPS truck in a silver Honda Ridgeline that was unfamiliar to De Leon and shot him 14 times within 19 seconds.
Surveillance footage captured the incident, showing Fontanoza driving away immediately after the shooting. De Leon, who was still buckled into his seat and holding his UPS scanner, died at the scene.
Fontanoza, on disability leave from UPS until June 1, reportedly used his work credentials to access the company’s computer system. Authorities stated that he went to the UPS substation in Aliso Viejo, where he photographed the drivers’ routes, enabling him to track De Leon’s movements on the day of the murder. “Mr. De Leon was simply performing his job, unaware that his longtime friend was stalking him with the intent to kill,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer.
Following the shooting, Fontanoza fled the scene but was apprehended by police later that evening. Officers found him in his silver pickup truck in Orange, California, around 6 p.m. The arrest followed a brief standoff, during which SWAT officers and a K-9 unit were deployed. Fontanoza was taken into custody after tear gas and a K-9 unit were used.
Fontanoza has been charged with murder with special circumstances, including lying in wait and committing a drive-by shooting. He also faces a sentencing enhancement for using a firearm to cause death. If convicted, Fontanoza could face the death penalty.
The motive behind the killing remains unclear. However, the DA’s office highlighted the premeditated nature of the crime. “The depravity involved to plot and carry out a plan to execute someone you shared a lifetime of memories with is not something any of us can wrap our heads around,” Spitzer stated.
UPS expressed its sorrow over the incident: “We are shocked and saddened by the latest developments in Irvine, CA. This situation is extremely uncommon and does not reflect our company’s culture or the camaraderie among our employees globally. Our priority is to support our staff and their families during this challenging period.”
