Costa Mesa, California – A woman involved in a road-rage incident that led to a 6-year-old boy’s death on the Costa Mesa Freeway has pleaded guilty to being an accessory to the crime and carrying a concealed weapon in her vehicle. The woman, Wynne Lee, 26, received a four-year sentence, the maximum penalty, but due to custody credits and time served on home confinement, she has already completed her sentence. Superior Court Judge Richard King expressed that probation would not have been granted regardless of the circumstances.
Lee’s boyfriend, Marcus Anthony Eriz, who fired the fatal shot that killed Aiden Leos on the freeway in Yorba Linda, was sentenced to 40 years to life in prison. The boy’s parents chose not to attend Lee’s court hearing. Judge King emphasized the severity of the crime and its impact on a “particularly vulnerable” victim and his family.
The tragic incident occurred as Aiden’s mother was driving him to kindergarten when their vehicle was cut off by Lee and Eriz. Following a series of gestures and interactions on the road, Eriz fired a shot from a handgun at the mother’s vehicle, striking Aiden and causing fatal injuries. A video shared during the trial detailed the heartbreaking account of the mother holding her son as he succumbed to his injuries.
Eriz was convicted of second-degree murder and firing at an occupied vehicle, with additional allegations related to the use of a handgun. The court highlighted Lee’s actions after the incident, where she knowingly assisted Eriz in evading authorities and hiding critical evidence, showing a lack of remorse for the tragic outcome.
Authorities expressed outrage at the leniency of the law, allowing Lee to serve her sentence at home while the community mourned the loss of young Aiden. Despite efforts to hold both Lee and Eriz accountable for their roles in the crime, the state’s system continues to face criticism for perceived shortcomings in justice delivery. The heartbreaking loss of Aiden has sparked calls for stricter measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
