UPS employee kills coworker, who was childhood pal: DA

Harris Marley

World Courant

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The suspect who shot a UPS driver in broad daylight in an ambush killing because the sufferer was on his supply route in Southern California was a childhood pal of his and a coworker, prosecutors stated. 

Rhean Jalipa Fontanoza, 46, allegedly shot 50-year-old Expedito De Leon 10 instances “in a matter of seconds as he sat seat belted in his supply truck” on Might 16, the Orange County District Legal professional’s Workplace stated Tuesday. 

“He nonetheless had his UPS scanner in his hand and his seatbelt buckled when Fontanoza drove up subsequent to De Leon’s supply truck and shot [at] him 14 instances in 19 seconds,” the DA’s workplace stated. 

Authorities stated Fontanoza fired 14 pictures and 10 hit De Leon. 

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USPS MAIL CARRIER SHOT AND KILLED ON THE JOB, POLICE OFFERING $250K REWARD FOR INFO

Rhean Jalipa Fontanoza (backside), 46, allegedly shot and killed his coworker and childhood pal, Expedito De Leon (prime), 50, because the sufferer was inside a UPS truck final week.  (KTTV; Irvine Police Division)

Fontanoza, a UPS worker who was on incapacity go away, is charged with a particular circumstances allegation of taking pictures from a automobile and homicide by mendacity in wait.

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He allegedly went to nice lengths to trace down De Leon’s supply route on the day of the killing. He allegedly stopped one other UPS driver at round 12:30 that day and requested if it was the identical supply route utilized by De Leon.

The driving force stated De Leon was on a unique route, prompting Fontanoza to go to the UPS substation in Aliso Viejo, the place he was allegedly seen accessing a pc that exhibits driver routes and taking an image along with his telephone. 

“Simply earlier than 3 p.m., Fontanoza is accused of monitoring De Leon down on his route and driving previous him a brand new automobile which De Leon wouldn’t acknowledge. De Leon then left his truck to make a supply and returned to his truck, and buckled his seatbelt,” prosecutors stated. 

CALIFORNIA MAIL CARRIER FIGHTS BACK AFTER GETTING SUCKER PUNCHED, VIDEO SHOWS

A UPS driver was shot and killed in what police imagine was a focused assault on Thursday in Irvine, California. (FOX 11 LA livestream/Screenshot)

After the homicide, Fontanoza fled the scene however was discovered by authorities in his automobile later that afternoon, prosecutors stated. He refused to get out of the automobile till tear fuel and a police Ok-9 had been deployed, authorities stated. 

Orange County District Legal professional Todd Spitzer stated De Leon “was simply going about his day, doing his job with no thought his longtime pal was stalking him with each intent to kill him.” 

“The depravity concerned to plot and perform a plan to execute somebody you shared a lifetime of recollections just isn’t one thing anybody of us can wrap our heads round,” he added. “No life ought to have to finish like this and it’s a tragedy that ought to have by no means occurred.”

The shooter accused of killing a UPS driver on Thursday in Irvine, California, barricaded himself inside his truck earlier than police compelled him out and arrested him. (FOX 11 LA livestream/Screenshot)

On the time of the killing, Fontanoza was scheduled to return to work on June 1 from incapacity go away.

Investigators haven’t decided a motive for the assault. Fontanoza is being held within the Orange County Jail with no bail. He’s eligible for the dying penalty, prosecutors stated. 

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In a press release to Fox Information Digital, UPS stated it was “shocked and saddened by the newest developments in Irvine, CA. These are extremely uncommon circumstances and don’t signify the tradition of our firm and the camaraderie amongst our staff world wide.”

“Our focus now’s on supporting our folks and their family members throughout this extraordinarily troublesome time. For the reason that investigation is ongoing, we defer any extra inquiries to the investigating authorities,” the corporate stated. 

UPS employee kills coworker, who was childhood pal: DA

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