UPDATED: SAN JACINTO: Two men arrested, charged in woman’s shooting death
Officials scour the area for evidence. Miguel Shannon/Epicenter News photo
SAN JACINTO – Just days after a woman’s lifeless body was discovered on the side of a San Jacinto road Saturday, April 29, sheriff’s officials announced the arrest of two men, accused in the victim’s shooting death. (Click link to view original story and initial updates.) The victim’s body was found on the 2600 block of Esplanade Avenue.
Although sheriff’s officials had previously stated the victim – who was later identified as 40-year-old, Latoya Calhoun – died in what they called a “motor vehicle-related incident,” on Wednesday, May 3, officials announced the arrest of two men for her murder. Both men were arrested in the city of Banning.
“A preliminary examination of the decedent was conducted by the Coroner’s Office on Sunday, April 30,” Riverside Sheriff’s Sergeant Robert Himmelberg explained in a written press release. “Their examination revealed the decedent…was the victim of a homicide based on gunshot wounds she received.”
After an investigation, on May 1, authorities arrested 40-year-old, Traevon Denae Stewart for Calhoun’s murder. They also arrested 62-year-old, Michael Bird the following day, as an accessory to Calhoun’s murder. Both men are Banning residents.
After their arrests, Stewart and Bird were both booked into the Larry Smith Correctional Facility in Banning.
Officials photograph and document the scene of the deadly incident. Miguel Shannon/Epicenter News photo
The investigation into Calhoun’s death began Saturday morning about 6 a.m., after a citizen called 911 to report finding Calhoun’s body.
Investigators from the Sheriff’s Central Homicide Unit assumed the investigation with assistance from the San Jacinto Police Department.
Esplanade Avenue was closed for several hours between N. Cawston and N. Sanderson Avenues, while evidence technicians from the department’s Forensic Services Bureau and other officials gathered evidence and documented the crime scene.
An online jail records search revealed Stewart was booked on suspicion of murder with malice and other charges. He remains in custody and is being held without bail.
Bird was booked on suspicion of being an accessory to murder with malice. He remains in custody on $50,000 bail.
The investigation is ongoing.
Officials have requested that anyone with information regarding this incident to call Deputy Cortez at (951) 654-2702. Callers can refer to incident file number I171190013 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s Homicide Tipline online form.
This is a developing story. Additional information will be updated as it becomes available.
Contact the writer: [email protected]
Trevor Montgomery runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News and Anza Valley Outlook and also writes for Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County.
Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg and breaking his back in an off-duty accident.
During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center and Lake Elsinore Station, along with other locations.
Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.
Trevor has been married for more than 26 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and has 13 children and 12 – soon to be 13 – grandchildren.
I WOULD SURELY MOST DEFINITELY WANT TO BE UPDATED AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE ON THIS STORY! PLEASE THE VICTIM TRULY DID NOT DESERVE WHAT THEY DID TO HER! SHE WAS A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN, WIFE, MOTHER, DAUGHTER LET’S NOT FORGET TO MENTION A VERY GREAT FRIEND! JUSTICE 4 TOYA!!!!