A California couple is under arrest in connection with the fatal shooting of a 6-year-old boy riding to school with his mother in what authorities have said was a road rage incident.
Both are being held in Orange County jail on $1 million bond each, PEOPLE confirms through online jail records.
Charges for the pair are pending. “We’ll be, and we are as we speak, executing search warrants to get additional evidence that we’re going to, and want to, collect,” Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer told reporters Sunday night, reportsCBS Los Angeles. “And we’re putting this case together. I feel very, very good about the case.”
Aiden Leos.GOFUNDME
The arrests occurred one day after a memorial service for the victim,Aiden Leos.
The boy was riding in the backseat of his mother’s car on his way to kindergarten around 8 a.m. May 21 when a suspect opened fire into the vehicle on the 55 Freeway in the city of Orange, according to California Highway Patrol.
Aiden Leos, at center.GOFUNDME
Joanna Cloonan, Aiden’s mother, said in an interview withGood Morning Americathat she was driving northbound in the carpool lane when a white sedan abruptly cut her off.
“As I started to merge away from them, I heard a really loud noise,” Cloonan toldGMA. “And my son said, ‘Ow,’ and I had to pull over. And he got shot.”
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Aiden was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
At thememorial service, Cloonan said of him, “You loved to play with toys for hours. You would create a whole world with characters within your vivid imagination,” reports NBC Los Angeles.
She added: “Violence is an unacceptable way to settle our differences and because of this my son lost his life.”
The boy’s 15-year-old sister, Alexis Cloonan, said: “I think of all the memories we shared together, all the times we laughed and smiled, all the times he comforted me when I was sad.” She added: “My brother was an example of God’s gift to the world. What we should try to be like.”
“The mother, father and sister of Aiden want to express their appreciation for your loving support [and] while their lives are shattered in a million pieces they are strengthened knowing the world is wrapping their arms around them!” Alexis Cloonan’s grandmother, Carla Lacy, wrote on the site.
Attorneys for Eriz and Lee were not immediately identified, and they have not yet entered any plea because charges have not been filed.
According to NBC Los Angeles, CHP Commissioner Amanda Rey said: “While these arrests will not ease the pain of a mother’s loss, my hope is for the Leos family to have some peace of mind and to rest assured the CHP will work with the Orange County District Attorney to bring justice for Aiden.”
source: people.com
