Aliso Viejo man arrested in connection with UPS driver shooting

An Aliso Viejo man suspected of gunning down a United Parcel Service driver in Irvine remained hospitalized Friday as investigators continued sorting through evidence in the case.

Rhean Fontanoza, 46, was arrested on suspicion of killing 50-year-old UPS driver Expedito Cuesta De Leon, also of Aliso Viejo, Thursday afternoon, according to Kyle Oldoerp of the Irvine Police Department.

The shooting occurred about 3 p.m. Thursday at Chrysler and Bendix,

The victim was shot multiple times. There was no immediate word on what may have prompted the shooting.

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Several hours later, police caught up to a silver pickup at Santiago Canyon Road near Chapman Avenue that investigators believed was connected to the shooting, Oldoerp said. Video from the scene around 6 p.m. showed the pickup pinned by a pair of armored SWAT vehicles, with additional officers stationed on a hillside above the standoff.

At about 6:15 p.m., officers were seen firing what appeared to be tear gas into the cab of the truck, and a short time later, a police canine was deployed, engaging the suspect in the rear passenger seat of the vehicle. After a short struggle, officers moved in and pulled the man from the vehicle and took him into custody.

The extent of the suspect's injuries was unclear.

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