Santa Ana, California — Joanna Cloonan is struggling to find peace after the tragic loss of her 6-year-old son, Aiden Leos, who was shot in a road rage incident more than four years ago. As she recalls the harrowing moment when she pulled her son from his booster seat, desperately seeking help as he bled on the side of the freeway, Cloonan is left with memories that haunt her daily.
The shocking incident unfolded on a spring day in 2021 when Aiden, full of life and joy, was on his way to kindergarten. Moments before the shooting, he was happily singing along to “Good Vibrations” and enjoying breakfast in the backseat of his mother’s Chevrolet. Their routine took a disastrous turn when an interaction with another driver led to a senseless act of violence that would forever alter Cloonan’s life.
At the center of the tragedy was Marcus Eriz, who fired a single shot from a vehicle occupied by himself and his girlfriend, Wynne Lee. This act of aggression struck Aiden, piercing vital organs and leading to his untimely death. In the aftermath, Cloonan has faced significant challenges, including the emotional burden of eulogizing her only child and witnessing Eriz sentenced to 40 years to life in prison.
As she processes her grief, Cloonan finds herself confronting another layer of pain. Her former partner, Jose Leos Jr., has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against her and others, alleging that her actions contributed to their son’s death. This legal battle has added to Cloonan’s emotional turmoil, as she feels the blame unjustly directed at her. “It’s torture,” she said, highlighting the anguish of being turned against during an already traumatic period.
The lawsuit hinges on the assertion that had Cloonan not engaged in “dangerous acts of road rage,” Aiden might still be alive. Cloonan vehemently disagrees, asserting that her reactions were borne out of desperation and fear rather than recklessness. “It felt like Satan came out of nowhere and attacked us,” she expressed, determined to maintain her innocence.
Cloonan’s relationship with Leos was fraught with difficulties long before Aiden’s tragic death. Their history, marred by allegations of domestic violence, complicates the ongoing legal proceedings. Cloonan had sought a restraining order against Leos in 2019, citing incidents of abuse, but their co-parenting arrangement continued until the incident on the freeway.
The aftermath of Aiden’s death left Cloonan grappling with profound grief and a sense of isolation. She describes life without her son as devoid of peace, struggling to maintain normalcy in her routine and often finding solace in prayer during the quiet hours of the night. The memories of Aiden’s laughter and their shared moments together are both a source of comfort and a painful reminder of what she has lost.
With the latest developments in the civil suit, Cloonan is attempting to navigate the legal and emotional challenges posed by the ongoing litigation. While her focus has been on healing, the pressure of the lawsuit adds another layer to her complicated grief journey. Attorney Mike Caspino, representing her pro bono, calls the lawsuit an “outrageous abuse of the justice system,” underscoring the complexity of the situation.
As she embraces her memories through the stuffed animal that Aiden cherished, Cloonan reflects on their bond. “He was my best friend. I did everything I could to protect him,” she conveys, strengthening her resolve to carry Aiden’s memory forward despite the pain that envelops her. In this difficult journey, she aims to find closure and eventually reclaim a semblance of peace in a life altered forever by a moment of reckless violence.