Verdict Reached In Fatal Freeway Shooting Of OC Kindergartner

COSTA MESA, CA — A 26-year-old man accused of firing shots at a car during a road-rage confrontation on a Costa Mesa freeway, killing a 6-year-old boy who was being driven to kindergarten, was convicted Thursday of second-degree murder.

Marcus Anthony Eriz, 26, of Costa Mesa, was convicted for the deadly May 21, 2021, gunfire on the Costa Mesa (55) Freeway that killed young Aiden Leos.

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A sentencing date was not immediately set, but Eriz faces up to 40 years to life in prison.
Co-defendant Wynne Lee, 26, Eriz's girlfriend, is awaiting trial for being an accessory after the fact. Eriz was a passenger in car driven by Lee when the shooting occurred.

Jurors deliberated for a brief period Wednesday afternoon following closing arguments in the trial, then announced early Thursday morning that they had reached a verdict.

During closing arguments Wednesday, Senior Deputy District Attorney Dan Feldman argued for the second-degree murder conviction while Eriz's attorney, Randall Bethune of the Orange County Public Defender's Office, advocated for a voluntary manslaughter conviction. Jurors were also permitted to consider involuntary manslaughter.

City News Service contributed to this report.