The fatal shooting of Aiden Leos, the 6-year-old boy killed in a road-rage incident on the 55 Freeway in Orange County, shocked California and garnered big donations for any information that would lead to the arrest of the boy's killer.
The reward for information quickly grew to $500,000 thanks to donations by community members.
Two weeks after Leos’ death, the police announced they had suspects in the shooting. Marcus Anthony Eriz, 24, and Wynne Lee, 23, were arrested at their home in Costa Mesa.
Eriz is being charged with murder. According to the police, he admitted to shooting at the vehicle of Joanna Cloonan, Leos’ mother, after she made a rude gesture toward Eriz over what was thought to be an unsafe lane change.
Now that there is an arrest has been made, where has the half a million gone?
CHP Border Division Chief Omar Watson said the department received “hundreds of tips.” According to officials, it was one of those tips that led them to Eriz and Lee. But, neither the prosecutors nor police have revealed specifics about the tip that led to their arrest.
Orange County supervisor Don Wagner, who himself donated to the reward, told USA TODAY in a statement that "claims on the reward money will be considered later as to not jeopardize the investigation."
“I’m grateful for all the tips investigators received and thank the citizens of Orange County who came together to provide financial and emotional support to Aiden’s family,” Wagner said. “It is too early to discuss any claims to a right to payment of the reward. The investigation continues and the suspects have not been convicted."
At the time of the arrest, Second District Supervisor Katrina Foley, who represents Costa Mesa, praised the local community for donating to the reward fund.
The community's contributions to a reward, "helped encourage continued attention and focus on this case, leading directly to today's arrest," according to a statement by Foley.
While the cases against Eriz and Lee are ongoing, it is clear the reward money will stay undispersed. What remains unclear is everything else: Who will decide how and when the money is given to whom?