A mother who lost her six-year-old son in a horrific road rage shooting is now being sued by the boy's father, her ex-partner, who claims her actions provoked the fatal attack.
Joanna Cloonan's world shattered on 21 May 2021 while driving her son, Aiden Leos, to his kindergarten in Yorba Linda, California. A white Volkswagen SportWagen cut her off in the carpool lane on the 55 Freeway. In a moment of frustration, Cloonan raised her middle finger at the other vehicle.
That gesture triggered an unthinkable response. Marcus Eriz, a passenger in the Volkswagen, pulled out a Glock 17 handgun and fired a single shot. The bullet tore through the trunk of Cloonan's car, striking Aiden, who was strapped in a booster seat behind her. It passed through his heart, lung, and liver.
Cloonan pulled over and held her dying son in her arms at the roadside. Despite efforts from an off-duty police officer and paramedics, Aiden was pronounced dead at the hospital less than an hour after the incident.
The Criminal Trial and a Shocking Civil Suit
Marcus Eriz, now 29, was convicted of second-degree murder and shooting at an occupied vehicle. In April 2024, he was sentenced to 40 years to life in prison. Wynne Lee, the driver of the Volkswagen, was sentenced to four years of home confinement for helping Eriz conceal the firearm in the week after the killing.
Now, the tragedy is set to be relived in civil court. Aiden's father, Jose Leos Jr., has filed a lawsuit against Cloonan, alleging her 'dangerous acts of road rage' directly provoked Eriz. The suit, seen by the LA Times, argues that had Cloonan not made the gesture, 'Aiden Leos would still be alive.'
During Eriz's criminal trial, Cloonan's lawyer stated she felt 'regret beyond comprehension' for her action but maintained she was not responsible for the murderous act of a stranger, whom she described as 'Satan'.
Dispute Over Funds and a Troubled History
The lawsuit further alleges that after Aiden's death, Cloonan launched a GoFundMe page which raised around $500,000 for funeral costs and to support his parents. Leos claims he never received any of these funds.
Cloonan told the LA Times she never spoke to Leos about the money nor promised him any, noting he had received compensation from a separate GoFundMe page he set up. The estranged couple have a fraught history; court records show Cloonan filed a domestic violence restraining order against Leos in 2019, which was later withdrawn in favour of mediation.
The forthcoming civil case promises to force Cloonan to recount the traumatic details of that day once more. In her testimony during the criminal trial, she described making eye contact with a smiling Eriz before trying to drive away. Moments later, Aiden cried out after the bullet struck.
Eriz, in his confession to police, offered no clear motive, stating: 'I don't have an answer. Because I'm stupid? I didn't think of the consequences or anyone.'
