A UPS driver in California was shot and killed in a brutal ambush by his childhood friend and co-worker while on a delivery route, prosecutors said.
The Orange County District Attorney’s Office said in a statement that Expedito de Leon, 50, was shot 10 times by Lianne Jalipa Fontanoza, 46, on May 16 “within a matter of seconds while he was sitting fastened in his seat belt in a delivery truck.” press release.
“When Fontanoza pulled up next to De Leon’s delivery truck and opened fire, he still had the UPS scanner in his hand and was wearing his seatbelt.” [at] “He was hit 14 times in 19 seconds,” authorities said.
Ten of the bullets struck De Leon, killing him.
Fontanoza was on disability leave from UPS at the time of the shooting and allegedly went to great lengths to track down the victim while driving his delivery routes.
Around 12:30 p.m., the suspect allegedly stopped another UPS driver and asked him if his delivery route belonged to De Leon.
When the driver told De Leon he was taking a different route, Fontanoza allegedly went to a UPS substation in Aliso Viejo, where he accessed the computer’s route system and took photos with his cell phone. .
“Shortly before 3 p.m., Fontanoza is accused of following De Leon along his route and passing him in a new vehicle that De Leon would not have recognized,” the prosecutor’s office said. Announced.
Fontanoza is accused of waiting until his friend had dropped off a delivery and returned to his truck before opening fire.
He then fled the scene in his car before being spotted by police later that afternoon. He initially refused to exit the vehicle, but he was eventually arrested after a K-9 unit and tear gas were deployed.
The murder suspect was scheduled to return from vacation on June 1, but is currently being held without bail in the Orange County Jail on a special circumstance murder charge.
“Mr. De Leon was simply doing his job and had no idea that a longtime friend was stalking him and plotting to kill him,” District Attorney Todd Spitzer said in a statement. “None of us can comprehend the depravity of planning and executing someone with whom you shared a lifetime of memories. This is not how a life should end and this is a tragedy that should never have happened.”
A motive for the attack has not been determined.
UPS said it was “shocked and saddened” to hear the news. statement To Fox News.
“This is a highly unusual situation and does not reflect the culture of our company or the camaraderie among our employees around the world,” the delivery service said.
“Our focus now is on supporting our employees and their families during this extremely difficult time. As the investigation is ongoing, we refer any further questions to investigating authorities,” the company added.
