On May 16, 2024, 50-year-old UPS driver Expedito "X" Cuesta De Leon was fatally shot while seated in his delivery truck in Irvine, California. De Leon, a dedicated employee with 27 years at UPS, was found slumped over in the driver's seat, still wearing his seatbelt and holding his scanner. Despite immediate life-saving efforts by responding officers, he succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds at the scene.
Investigations revealed that the assailant was 46-year-old Rhean Jalipa Fontanoza, a childhood friend and coworker of De Leon. Fontanoza, who was on disability leave from UPS and scheduled to return to work on June 1, meticulously tracked De Leon's delivery route on the day of the murder. He inquired about De Leon's assignments from another UPS driver and accessed a company computer to obtain specific route information. Driving a silver Honda Ridgeline—a vehicle unfamiliar to De Leon—Fontanoza approached the UPS truck and, within 19 seconds, fired 14 shots, resulting in De Leon's immediate death.
Following the shooting, Fontanoza fled the scene but was located by law enforcement approximately an hour later near Santiago Canyon Road. After a standoff involving the deployment of tear gas and a police K-9 unit, he was apprehended and taken into custody. The Orange County District Attorney charged Fontanoza with special circumstance murder, including allegations of shooting from a vehicle and murder by lying in wait, making him eligible for the death penalty if convicted. The motive behind this calculated attack remains unclear, leaving the community and authorities searching for answers.
De Leon, originally from San Jose, Ormoc, Philippines, moved to California at 14 and served in the U.S. Army before his long tenure at UPS. He is remembered as a kind individual with an infectious smile, a loving husband, and a proud father. His tragic death has left a profound void among family, friends, and colleagues, who continue to mourn the loss of a man known for his dedication to his family and his work.
