Joanna Cloonan is the mother of Aiden Leos, the six-year-old boy shot and killed in a road rage attack on the 55 Freeway in Orange County, California, on May 21, 2021. In the years since, the passenger who fired the shot has been convicted of second-degree murder, the driver has pleaded guilty as an accessory, and Aiden’s father has sued Cloonan in civil court, alleging her driving helped provoke the confrontation. The Joanna Cloonan and Aiden Leos case remains active because of that pending wrongful death lawsuit.
What Happened on the 55 Freeway
Shortly after 8:00 a.m. on May 21, 2021, Cloonan was driving her Chevrolet Sonic northbound on the 55 Freeway near Chapman Avenue in Orange, taking Aiden to kindergarten. He was buckled into a car seat in the back.1Los Angeles Times. California Orange County 55 Freeway Road Rage Murder
A white Volkswagen Golf SportWagen driven by 23-year-old Wynne Lee, with her boyfriend, 24-year-old Marcus Anthony Eriz, in the passenger seat, cut Cloonan off in the carpool lane and brake-checked her.2NBC Los Angeles. Gunman’s Girlfriend Pleads Guilty in OC Freeway Shooting Death of 6-Year-Old Boy Lee flashed a peace sign, and Cloonan pulled alongside and gave the couple the middle finger.1Los Angeles Times. California Orange County 55 Freeway Road Rage Murder Lee then dropped the Volkswagen in behind the Chevrolet. Eriz reached into the back seat for a 9mm Glock handgun and fired one shot.3Los Angeles Times. Tipsters to Split $100K After Helping Crack Aiden Leos Road Rage Killing Case
The bullet passed through the trunk and struck Aiden, causing fatal injuries to his liver, lung, and heart.1Los Angeles Times. California Orange County 55 Freeway Road Rage Murder Cloonan heard a noise and Aiden say “ow,” pulled over, and called 911.4OC District Attorney. Costa Mesa Man Sentenced to 40 Years to Life in Prison for Murdering 6-Year-Old Aiden Leos Aiden was taken to Children’s Hospital of Orange County, where he died.
How the Shooters Were Identified
The California Highway Patrol released a description of the suspect vehicle and asked for public help. A reward fund grew to $500,000.5Newsweek. Memorial Held for Aiden Leos, Reward Fund Now $500K The decisive tips came from Laura Keith, a coworker of the couple at Gerber Collision, who supplied their names, addresses, work schedules matching the freeway route, and the detail that the Volkswagen was registered to Lee’s grandmother. Two other tipsters, Raul Martinez and Jesica Rodriguez, also contributed information.6OC Register. Tipsters Who Helped Solve the Orange Freeway Killing of Aiden Leos to Split $100,000
Within 24 hours of Keith’s tips, CHP officers arrested Eriz and Lee outside their Costa Mesa apartment on June 6, 2021. Investigators recovered the gun and the Volkswagen.7CBS News. Alleged Killers of 6-Year-Old Orange Shooting Victim in Court
The Criminal Convictions
Eriz went to trial in January 2024. After opening statements on January 18, the jury deliberated for about two hours before returning a guilty verdict on January 25, convicting him of second-degree murder, shooting into an occupied vehicle, and two firearm enhancements for personal discharge causing great bodily injury and death.1Los Angeles Times. California Orange County 55 Freeway Road Rage Murder On April 12, 2024, Judge Richard King sentenced him to 40 years to life, the maximum. District Attorney Todd Spitzer noted that without the enhancement, the sentence could have been as low as 15 years to life.8ABC7. Marcus Anthony Eriz Is Sentenced in OC Court for Shooting Death of 6-Year-Old Aiden Leos
Lee pleaded guilty on April 26, 2024 to one felony count of accessory after the fact and one misdemeanor count of having a concealed firearm in a vehicle. Judge King imposed the maximum: three years on the felony and one on the misdemeanor. But Lee had accrued more than five and a half years of credit under California’s AB 109 through court-ordered home confinement while awaiting trial, so the judge ruled the sentence already served.9Los Angeles Times. Accomplice in Shooting Death of 6-Year-Old Aiden Leos Sentenced She was also ordered to pay $670 in fines plus restitution to be determined.10ABC7. Wynne Lee Pleads Guilty in Road Rage Shooting Death of 6-Year-Old Aiden Leos Spitzer called the home-confinement credit “disgraceful.”
Aiden’s Father Sues Joanna Cloonan
In January 2026, Aiden’s father, Joey Leos, filed a wrongful death lawsuit in Orange County Superior Court. The defendants are Cloonan, Eriz, Lee, and Cloonan’s mother.11ABC7. Aiden Leos Case: Boy’s Father Sues Mother The suit alleges Cloonan’s “aggressive driving” provoked the shooting and that she shares liability for the confrontation.12Fox LA. Aiden Leos Father Sues Mother Over Road Rage Shooting Death The legal basis for naming Cloonan’s mother has not been publicly disclosed; reporting notes she set up a GoFundMe campaign after Aiden’s death.13ABC7. Aiden Leos Case: Mother Speaks as Father Files Lawsuit
The wrongful death case was set for trial in late March 2026, with a subsequent civil court date reported as June 25, 2026.9Los Angeles Times. Accomplice in Shooting Death of 6-Year-Old Aiden Leos Sentenced
Cloonan’s Response
Cloonan denies that her driving caused the attack. In an interview with ABC7 after the lawsuit was filed, she said Joey Leos had “revictimized me … fully, and I’ve had to relive all that pain over again. I just want to be left alone.”14New York Post. Mom’s Aggressive Driving Caused Young Son’s Road Rage Murder: Suit Her attorney called the suit “the most abusive case” he had ever seen and said he expected it to be “thrown out at the very earliest opportunity.”13ABC7. Aiden Leos Case: Mother Speaks as Father Files Lawsuit
Cloonan testified during Eriz’s criminal trial about the moments after the shot was fired.11ABC7. Aiden Leos Case: Boy’s Father Sues Mother Two days after Aiden’s death, she appeared on “Good Morning America” pleading for justice. “It should never happen again,” she said. “So whatever help this does, that’s my intention for my son.”15ABC News. Mother of 6-Year-Old Killed in California Road Rage Shooting Pleads for Justice