2 suspects in 6-year-old's California road rage death face murder, gun charges

Prosecutors in California on Tuesday charged a man with murder for his alleged role in the May 21 road rage shooting that killed 6-year-old Aiden Leos, and a woman driving the car the man was in has been charged as an accessory.

Marcus Anthony Eriz, 24, was charged with murder and shooting at an occupied motor vehicle. Wynne Lee, 23, was charged with accessory after the fact of the crime of murder and concealing a firearm. Eriz also faces further gun charge enhancements for his alleged role in firing the gun that killed Leos.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said if Eriz is convicted he will "spend a significant portion of his adult life in prison."

Lee, who isn't accused of firing the gun, potentially faces four years of prison time. Prosecutors asked that Eriz's bail be adjusted to $2 million and Lee's to $500,000, according to the felony complaint.

"As a mom, I just — my heart was breaking the moment that we found out about this heinous crime," said Supervisor Katrina Foley of the Orange County Board of Supervisors. "All of my friends were frantically wondering, 'What can we do to help?'"

Investigators had said Monday that they recovered the weapon and the white Volkswagen station wagon driven during the shooting.

The two suspects were arrested late Sunday, just one day before the 6-year-old boy's memorial service, according to NBC News Los Angeles.

The boy was in the back seat of his mother's vehicle as she drove northbound on Freeway 55 in Orange when a bullet struck and passed through the car, reportedly the result of a road rage dispute during a lane change.

The road rage murder drew nationwide attention and hundreds of thousands of dollars in reward money for information leading to the suspects' arrest.

Spitzer said it was "incredibly premature" to speak about paying out the $500,000 reward, adding its release was premised not only on an arrest but also a successful prosecution.

Supervisors Wagner's and Foley's offices each added $50,000 toward the reward; Foley said at the time she hoped it would "encourage the public to send in any tips and information they might have."