UPS driver killed in Southern California, shot 14 times by childhood friend

New details released Tuesday about the fatal ambush attack on a UPS driver in Orange County revealed that he was allegedly stalked and killed by a childhood friend.

The shooting occurred on May 16 when the victim, Expedito Cuesta De Leon, 50, of Aliso Viejo, was sitting in his van after dropping off a package around 3 p.m

Suddenly, a masked gunman pulled up in front of De Leon’s van and shot him 14 times in 19 seconds, according to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.

Irvine police responded to the area near Chrysler and Bendix streets in Irvine, where De Leon was found in his van with multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The suspect, Rhean Jalipa Fontanoza, 46, sped from the area. He was located about an hour later and arrested after a standoff with a SWAT team.

New details revealed that the two men, who were both UPS employees, knew each other and had been childhood friends.

On May 16 at around 12:30 p.m., Fontanoza reportedly stopped another UPS driver to ask if a particular route belonged to the victim, police said.

When the driver said the victim had a different route, Fontanoza allegedly went to the Aliso Viejo UPS branch to access a computer that displayed the drivers’ routes and took a photo of the information with his cellphone.

At the time, Fontanoza was on disability leave and was scheduled to return to work on June 1.

Shortly before 3 p.m., Fontanoza is accused of tracking De Leon on his route. He reportedly drove past De Leon several times in a new vehicle that the victim did not recognize.

He waited for De Leon to make a delivery and return to his truck. He then pulled up next to the UPS truck and opened fire, court documents say.

“He still had his UPS scanner in his hand and was wearing his seatbelt when Fontanoza drove alongside De Leon’s delivery truck and shot him 14 times in 19 seconds,” prosecutors said.

Fontanoza was later found by police on Santiago Canyon Road in Orange. After he refused to get out of his truck, tear gas was fired and a police K9 was deployed. The suspect was eventually pulled out of the truck and arrested.

The motive behind the fatal shooting and details of the men’s relationship remain unclear.

Fontanoza was charged with one count of murder and special circumstances, including a drive-by shooting and lying in wait. He is being held without bail. If convicted on all charges, he would be eligible for the death penalty, prosecutors said.

“Mr. “De Leon simply went about his day and did his job, unaware that his longtime friend was pursuing him with the intent to kill him,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. “The depravity of it “To plan and execute a plan to execute a person with whom we have shared a life full of memories is something none of us can understand. No life should have to end like this and it is a tragedy that should never have happened.”

The case remains under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Craig Voors at 949-724-7131 or email [email protected].