A UPS driver was tragically killed in a premeditated attack in Irvine, California. The victim, 50-year-old Expedito Cuesta De Leon, was reportedly shot 14 times by his childhood friend and fellow UPS employee, Rhean Jalipa Fontanoza.
The incident happened on May 16, 2024, while De Leon was on his delivery route. According to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, Fontanoza, aged 46, lay in wait for De Leon at the intersection of Chrysler and Bendix in the Irvine Industrial Complex. Around 3 p.m., Fontanoza reportedly approached De Leon’s UPS truck in a silver Honda Ridgeline, a vehicle unfamiliar to the victim, and fired 14 shots in a span of 19 seconds.
A surveillance camera recorded the attack, showing Fontanoza fleeing immediately after the shooting. De Leon, still strapped in his seat and clutching his UPS scanner, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Fontanoza, who was on disability leave from UPS until June 1, allegedly utilized his work credentials to gain access to the company’s computer system. This enabled him to photograph the drivers’ routes at the UPS substation in Aliso Viejo, California, and 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 District Attorney Todd Spitzer.
After the shooting, Fontanoza was quickly identified as a suspect and captured by police later that day. He was found in his silver pickup truck in Orange, California, around 6 p.m. Following a brief standoff, during which SWAT officers and a K-9 unit were utilized, Fontanoza was apprehended with the help of tear gas.
Fontanoza has since been charged with murder with special circumstances, including premeditated lying in wait and committing a drive-by shooting. He also faces additional sentencing for using a firearm to cause death. If found guilty, Fontanoza could be sentenced to death.
Although the motive for the murder remains unknown, the District Attorney’s Office emphasized the calculated nature of the crime. DA Spitzer stated, “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.”
UPS released a statement in response to the tragedy: “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.”
A public viewing for De Leon was organized, offering an opportunity for friends and family to pay their respects.
