Marcus Eriz, a 27-year-old from California, has been sentenced to 40 years to life in prison following the fatal shooting of 6-year-old Aiden Leos during a road rage incident in May 2021. Aiden was killed while seated in the backseat of his mother’s car on their way to kindergarten. The incident occurred as Aiden’s mother gestured at the vehicle driven by Eriz’s girlfriend, Wynne Lee, on a freeway.

Eriz, who was a passenger in the car, was convicted of second-degree murder and shooting into an occupied vehicle. During his trial, Eriz expressed remorse for his actions, acknowledging the irreversible pain caused by the shooting.

The case, prosecuted in Orange County, attracted significant attention due to the tragic nature of Aiden’s death and the broader concerns about freeway safety and road rage. Wynne Lee, associated with the case, has pleaded not guilty to being an accessory after the fact and presently awaits her trial.

Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer stressed the severity of the crime, describing it as a cold-blooded act rather than a mere mistake, underlining the importance of accountability in such incidents.