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On July 20, 2017, Steven Loia was tried and convicted for the homicide of Lavern Davis.

On Sept. 22, 2016, Corona Police officers responded to the 700 block of S. Main Street in the City of Corona after multiple callers to 9-1-1 reported a male was attacking a female with a bat and a knife in the parking lot. Lavern Davis, a 60-year-old resident of Corona, suffered fatal injuries in the attack.

With the help of several citizens, officers located and arrested 54-year-old Steven Loia immediately following the attack. Loia had fled the scene but several of the witnesses kept him in sight and reported his location to the arriving officers.

Loia was charged with first degree murder as well as the alleged use of weapons during the crime with a prior serious felony conviction. The trial took place July 18-20, 2017 at the Riverside Hall of Justice, Department 65, presided by Judge Thomas Kelly. Riverside County Deputy District Attorney Edward Hong was the lead prosecutor in this case.

In the afternoon of July 20, 2017, the jury found Loia guilty of first degree murder, found true the allegation of the use of weapons during a crime (two counts) and found true the allegation of committing a new crime with a prior serious felony conviction. Having a prior “strike” offense doubles the sentence of Loia’s murder conviction.

Loia is scheduled to be sentenced in mid-August, 2017. He is facing a maximum of 57 years-to-life for the murder of Lavern Davis.