(Rightallegiance.com) – In Southern California, a shocking crime occurred when a UPS driver was shot and killed while on his delivery route. The suspect, who was a childhood friend and coworker of the victim, has been identified by prosecutors.
Rhean Jalipa Fontanoza, 46, is accused of shooting 50-year-old Expedito De Leon 10 times on May 16. According to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, the shooting happened quickly while De Leon was still seat-belted in his delivery truck.
“He still had his UPS scanner in his hand and his seatbelt buckled when Fontanoza drove up next to De Leon’s delivery truck and shot at him 14 times in 19 seconds,” the DA’s office stated. Out of the 14 shots fired, 10 struck De Leon.
Fontanoza, who worked for UPS but was on disability leave, has been charged with murder and a special circumstance of shooting from a vehicle. Authorities revealed that he went to great lengths to find De Leon’s delivery route that day. He even asked another UPS driver about De Leon’s route and visited the UPS substation in Aliso Viejo to access a computer showing driver routes, taking a picture with his phone.
“Just before 3 p.m., Fontanoza is accused of tracking De Leon down on his route and driving past him in a new vehicle which De Leon wouldn’t recognize,” prosecutors explained. De Leon had just made a delivery and returned to his truck when the shooting occurred. After the murder, Fontanoza fled but was found by authorities later that afternoon. He refused to leave his vehicle until tear gas and a police K-9 were used.
Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer expressed his sorrow, saying, “De Leon was just going about his day, doing his job with no idea his longtime friend was stalking him with every intent to kill him. The depravity involved to plot and carry out a plan to execute someone you shared a lifetime of memories with is unimaginable.”
Fontanoza, who was scheduled to return to work on June 1, is now in the Orange County Jail with no bail. Investigators have not yet determined a motive for the attack, but Fontanoza is eligible for the death penalty.
In a statement, UPS expressed their shock and sadness over the incident. “These are highly unusual circumstances and do not represent the culture of our company and the camaraderie among our employees around the world. Our focus now is on supporting our people and their loved ones during this extremely difficult time,” the company said. UPS also noted that the investigation is ongoing and deferred any additional questions to the authorities.