UPS driver fatally shot by childhood friend while delivering packages: DA

A UPS worker in Southern California was charged Tuesday with shooting his friend and co-worker in an execution-style attack last week.

Rhean Jalipa Fontanoza, 46, allegedly shot and killed Expedito De Leon, his childhood friend, while De Leon was delivering packages last week, according to a press release from the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.

“The depravity involved in plotting and executing a plan to execute someone with whom you have shared a lifetime of memories is not something any of us can ignore,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer.

Prosecutors said the shooting happened on May 16, while Fontanoza was incarcerated for incapacitation. Fontanoza stopped another UPS driver delivering packages to ask if the route was De Leon’s, the news release said. When Fontanoza heard that De Leon had a different route, he went to a local UPS substation, where he used a computer to look up De Leon’s route.

In a car that De Leon wouldn’t recognize, Fontanoza drove to De Leon’s truck in Irvine that afternoon. He allegedly waited until De Leon returned to his truck and fastened his seat belt before firing fourteen shots at him, killing him.

Fontanoza fled the scene but was found later that day in Orange, the district attorney’s office said. After he refused to leave his vehicle, police used tear gas and police dogs to take him into custody.

Prosecutors have yet to determine a motive behind the alleged execution, according to the announcement.

Kimberly Sudan, De Leon’s ex-wife, told the local news station KTLA which had De Leon “a good heart” and had served in the Army for four years before joining UPS.

“His greatest joy was for his children,” Sudan told the newspaper. “They both successfully graduated from college and seeing his son and daughter as he graduated was one of the proudest moments of his life. We love him and miss him very much.”

UPS called the events “very unusual” in a statement statement to CBS Newssaying that what happened “does not reflect the culture of our company and the camaraderie among our employees around the world.”