Aiden Leos Will Be Memorialized At The Place He Loved: The Zoo

LAKE FOREST, CA — Aiden Leos, 6, will be memorialized at the new large animal exhibit at the Orange County Parks Zoo, officials say. On Monday, Aiden Leos’s family joined Supervisor Don Wagner to announce that the dedication plaque will be installed at the Orange County Zoo.

The new, two-acre “Large Mammal Exhibit” is currently under construction and will open in early 2022. At that time, the honorary plaque in Aiden’s name will be placed at the exhibit.

It was a photo of Aiden at OC Zoo in front of the mountain lion exhibit prompted Supervisor Wagner to honor Aiden and other victims of violent crimes in Orange County with the memorial plaque.

Family spokesperson Carly Lacy shared their thoughts on the day.
“On behalf of the family, we want to take this moment and allow it to be a joyous occasion, to honor Aiden’s spirit of kindness and graciousness," Lacy said. "I can’t think of a better place than here at Irvine Regional Park where he enjoyed many visits with his family."

Wagner discussed the heart behind the future memorial.

“Today we want to celebrate Aiden’s memory and say to other victims: this community has your back," Wagner said. "Just as this community has done for Aiden, we are going to work to bring justice for all victims. What happened to Aiden galvanized our community to find his killer and it can motivate us to hunt down and bring to justice the perpetrators of other violent crimes. We will not stand for these kinds of crimes in Orange County."

Supervisor Wagner thanked the family for being brave, gracious, and for throwing themselves wholeheartedly into the search for justice.

Aiden's family, Joanna Cloonan (mother), Alexis Cloonan (sister), and Carla Lacy (grandmother), along with OC Park's Zoo, staff were all in attendance.

Carla continued, “We are so grateful to Supervisor Wagner and his office for working with OC Parks, to allow this honor for Aiden. It is warming to the hearts of our family, and a step in the right direction for the healing process. It’s going to be a joyous place to come and be happy.”

For more information on the upcoming new exhibit, please visit www.ocparks.com.