[KHTS] – Homicide detectives are investigating the death of a man who is suspected to have overdosed on heroin, while to others were arrested in connection with the death and the theft of the victim’s property.
Kahlil Banks, 42, of Canyon Country was found dead in his apartment on the 28000 block of Sarabande Lane in Santa Clarita, officials said Friday.
Tommy Loaiza
Deputies arrested Tommy Loaiza, 38, of Canyon Country, after they allegedly found him in Banks’ car the following day. It was reported stolen on May 26, after Banks was found dead.
Banks was pronounced dead at the scene by Los Angeles County Fire Department personnel.
Deputies recovered an illegal substance and drug paraphernalia from the location. The deputies also discovered the victim’s vehicle was missing.
Later that day, Santa Clarita deputies received an LA Crime Stoppers tip naming a man involved with the death of the victim and stealing the victim’s vehicle.
Loaiza was arrested for driving the victim’s vehicle Wednesday, and a murder charge was later added to a grand theft auto charge.
Loaiza is being held in lieu of $1 million bail.
Matthew Pontecorvo, 24, was arrested on suspicion of stealing the victim’s dirt bike.
LASD Homicide Dets Seeking the Public’s Help in Locating, Recovering Victim’s Personal Property
Detectives are asking for the public’s help to locate the victim’s stolen bike.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau detectives are seeking the public’s help in locating and recovering victim Banks’ personal property.
During the investigation into the narcotics related death investigation of Victim Banks, Homicide detectives learned several items were taken from the victim’s garage. Among the items stolen were a 50-inch flat screen television, “Toshiba” laptop, a “GoPro” camera, and “Xbox” console controllers, a small television (unknown brand or color), a digital camera (unknown brand or color), and a red and white 2007 “Honda” CRF150R dirt bike with the number plate “12” on the side. The actual dirt bike is depicted in the attached photograph.
Homicides detectives discovered Suspect Loaiza along with an additional suspect, 24-year-old Matthew Pontecorvo, entered the victim’s residence while he was deceased and stole the items.
Suspect Pontecorvo stole the dirt bike. On Thursday, May 28, he was arrested and is being held in lieu of $50,000 bail.
Matthew Pontecorvo
Suspect Loaiza is depicted in the attached photograph wearing a red shirt.
Suspect Pontecorvo is depicted in the attached photograph wearing a gray tank-top.
Anyone with information leading to locating and recovery the victim’s stolen property, please contact Homicide Detective Antoinette Martinez at (562) 631-5920.
Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. If you prefer to provide information anonymously, you may call “Crime Stoppers” by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477), or texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or by using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org
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38 Comments
Another sad story :( RIP
No way!! Not Tommy!! :-(
Wow.. seems like a lot of people are getting killed.. so sad! What has this world come to?
Been this way for a looooong time.
Agreed. Just seems to be getting so much worse. Or Santa Clarita is no longer trying to cover it up so much
Thanks to social media it’s more in your face…
Now we know within the hour when this stuff happens as opposed to waiting for the next morning to see it in the paper…
It spreads like wildfire in people’s news feed…
We’re just more aware of it now is all…
If he died of a drug overdose, how is the other man being charged with murder?
Because he knew about it and still went and took his car.
*is
More like Grand Theft!
It can be considered murder if he supplied the heroin that killed the man.
I see what you are saying. In that case though, if people commit suicide using a gun that they purchased at a gun shop, should the shop also be charged with murder?
I wonder where that anonymous tip came from
>>>destiny<<<<.
So true ray
Destiny Shanel Vargas, i didn’t read that in the article. What if he lent him his vehicle?
Eileen Cortez he’s my uncle … Trust I know… but hey i get you maybe.. Or maybe he ran off in panic because what happened
Yes of course Eileen Gatica I do ! Jus put it this way he’s another diablo. And worse. He is blood but it is what it is. Tu saves.
Yes of course Eileen Gatica I do ! Jus put it this way he’s another diablo. And worse. He is blood but it is what it is. Tu saves.
Over the past 6 months, it has really gotten scary here in Canyon Country and the SCV..Too much violent crime and robberies…It’s a shame since I love living up here but it does make me reconsider staying.
Jimmy, you think this was the dude in the Minivan?
Yes most likely I have the video
Post it
It doesn’t say anything about a minivan
It doesn’t say anything about a minivan
I have a video on this
Minivan? Video? Curious…..
how are they getting Tommy for murder?? They should only be going down for GTA, and nobody knows maybe the guy lend him the car before he died, if anything they should get in for driving without owners consent!!
Only god knows the truth . let’s hope so.
Only god knows the truth . let’s hope so.
there is absolutely no excuse to try and make sense of all this tragedy that went down…looks like the work of the devil so with that being said I will pray that all families involved find peace and healing..so sad that this went down…remembering how the suspect as a young kid coming to live with me and my family for a while and tried my best to teach him to live and let live and to have respect for all but you just don’t know how a person will decide to take one path or another,nephew,my heart is feeling heavy for all involved..i will pray for all….unk jerlo
Tommy better hope he never gets out of jail… And his family better watch where they go
sounds like another dope fiend… Your words and actions will probably stay on the internet where they belong…
No reply necessary… Jaycat lol
Lol. Mr loaiza , if u are family u would know tommy ain’t family. But of course u probably don’t know tomorrow the way HIS family does.
Regardless of how this happened, Kahlil didn’t deserve to lose hiss life. My heart goes out to his two beautiful children who will now have to grow up in his absence. I pray that justice prevails and that his family can begin to heal from this terrible tragedy.
Kahlil didn’t deserve to be left for dead… Regardless of his drug use issues, he was a very good father and such a kind hearted person. And to take his stuff while he’s laying there unresponsive was not cool. It’s really sad what drugs are doing to our family n friends.
FREE TOMMY!!!
Hmmm wonder if Matthew worries for his mom Traci