A jury on Thursday convicted a California man of manslaughter for fatally shooting a 6-year-old boy who was riding behind his mother’s car on a busy highway.
An Orange County jury found Marcus Eriz, 26, guilty of second-degree murder in the death of Aiden Leos, who was strapped into a booster seat on the way to kindergarten.
They also found him guilty of shooting at an occupied motor vehicle.
Authorities say Eriz and his girlfriend, Wynne Lee, were heading to work on May 21, 2021, when Lee cut off a car driven by Aiden’s mother, who responded with an abusive gesture.
Eriz pulled out a gun, reached through the window, and fired a shot into the mother’s car that went through the trunk and pierced Aiden’s heart, authorities said.
The shooting shocked the county of 3 million people, which relies heavily on the highway network to get to work and school, and drew international attention as authorities searched more than two weeks for the killer.
Marcus Eriz was found guilty of second-degree murder in the death of Aiden Leos, who was strapped into a booster seat on the way to kindergarten on May 21, 2021. AP
“If you shoot someone or use violence in this county, and you injure an individual, you will pay the price,” Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer told reporters after the verdict was read.
“Mr. Eriz has 40 years to live. His life is over, and it’s because he took the life of this precious, innocent little boy,” Spitzer said, pointing to a large picture of a smiling Aiden on display.
Eriz looked straight at the jury as they were surveyed after the verdict was read. He is being held without bail and is scheduled to be sentenced on April 12. Eriz’s attorney, Randall Bethune, declined to comment Thursday.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Dan Feldman spoke after Eriz was found guilty of murdering Aiden Leos. AP authorities say Eriz and his girlfriend, Wynne Lee, were heading to work on May 21, 2021, when Lee cut off a car driven by Aiden’s mother, who responded with rude gestures. AP
Just over two weeks after the shooting, authorities arrested Eriz and Lee outside their apartment in the Orange County city of Costa Mesa after following up on leads to the white car he was driving.
Eriz told police he pulled out his gun and fired, knowing it was dangerous, Dan Feldman, senior deputy district attorney, told jurors during the trial.
Eriz’s attorney argued his client didn’t mean to kill anyone in what started as a road rage incident and didn’t know he had until days later when a co-worker commented that Lee’s car looked like what authorities were looking for.
Lee, who pleaded not guilty to being an accessory after the fact, was tried separately.
The jury began deliberations late Wednesday. They met for a little more than an hour Thursday when they announced they had reached a decision, Feldman said.
Feldman shows jurors a 9 mm handgun as part of evidence against Eriz on January 18, 2024. AP
Orange County Superior Court Judge Richard M. King thanked the jurors and told them free counseling was available to them if needed.
“This is a very challenging case,” he said before dismissing them.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
