ORANGE, Calif. — Family and friends gathered Saturday for a private memorial service for 6-year-old Aiden Leos at Calvary Chapel in Yorba Linda. The search is still ongoing for the shooter who killed the boy on May 21 in a suspected road rage incident on the 55 freeway in Orange.

What You Need To Know

  • Family and friends gathered Saturday for a private memorial service for 6-year-old Aiden Leos at Calvary Chapel in Yorba Linda

  • The search continues for the shooter who killed the boy on May 21 in a suspected road rage incident on the 55 freeway in Orange May 21

  • The reward is now at $500,000, with people from all over the community pitching in

  • Longtime city of Orange resident and martial arts instructor Kris Eszlinger is working with Aidens' family and spearheading efforts to raise reward money and bring justice to the family

Longtime city of Orange resident and martial arts instructor Kris Eszlinger is working with the family and spearheading efforts to raise reward money to bring justice to the family. On Saturday morning, he shared a stern message for the gunman with Spectrum News. 

"Our hope is that you are feeling regret, sorrow and remorse for this immense pain your thoughtless action has caused this young family and our community of good people," Eszlinger said.

Eszlinger said he happened to be on the same freeway the morning of the shooting. 

"Traffic on that side was completely stopped. There were people standing on the overpasses looking down," he said. "At first, I thought it was a very tragic car accident of some sort." 

After he learned what happened to Aiden, the father of five and grandfather of three jumped into action, working with a co-worker to set up the website www.aiden-reward.com with reward information and information on how the public can help. He also printed 55 large banners and hung them over multiple freeway overpasses — all in hopes of finding the shooter. 

"This just really hit home," he said. "It was just so unnecessary, and for this little boy to be victimized in this manner, it needed a community outreach."

The reward is now at $500,000, with people from all over the community pitching in. Investigators are still looking for the female driver and male passenger in a 2018 or 2019 white Volkswagen Golf SportWagen. They believe the passenger fired at Aiden and his mother while she was driving her son to kindergarten, authorities said.

Eszlinger said even though he didn't know Aiden personally, he feels a sense of loss. 

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"Most of the community didn't even know Aiden, but after hearing those countless stories about what a loving and kind child he was, we all feel that we do know him," he said. "We all feel that he's a member of our own family that's been lost."

Anyone with information about the shooting can contact the CHP Santa Ana office at 714-567-6000 or email SANTAANACHPTIPLINE@CHP.CA.GOV.