The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office has arrested two suspects and is seeking a third in connection to the death of a man who was reported missing in late April.
The ECSO announced via Facebook on May 7 that 21-year-old Michael Polnitz Jr. and 17-year-old Kaleb Bonner have been arrested and charged with homicide. The post noted that deputies are still seeking 19-year-old Antonio Larkins for his alleged role in the homicide.
On April 25, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office located a 20-year-old male in a vehicle on Currier Place, dead from a gunshot wound.
Polnitz’s arrest report identified the deceased as Andrew Sanders and indicated the homicide was drug related. Sanders had been identified as a missing person on the ECSO Facebook page on April 24.
Deputies initially responded to the 200 block of Washburn Street on April 24 in response to a shots fired complaint. The arrest report indicates the residents of the home drove up to find an unfamiliar gray Chevy Malibu sedan and an unfamiliar blue Kia parked in front of their house. They said they observed several people inside the sedan and could hear “banging” from someone seemingly trying to exit the back seat of the vehicle. They heard a gun shot from inside the vehicle, then the sedan reportedly pulled out of their driveway and drove off.
Deputies later located the blue Kia parked at nearby store and made contact with a friend of Sanders, who said he rode with Sanders to Washburn Street to meet someone. The friend said that when they arrived, Sanders got into the backseat of the Malibu, and when the sedan drove off, the friend got into the driver’s seat of the Kia and attempted to follow the vehicle but lost sight of it.
Sanders’ phone was still in his Kia, and investigators reviewed its contents and reportedly found messages between Sanders and an individual they later identified as Larkin. The pair were allegedly setting up a deal for Larkin to buy a pound of marijuana from Sanders, the report said.
Investigators also learned the gray Malibu used in the incident was linked to Polnitz. The car belonged to his girlfriend’s mom, and Polnitz said the vehicle was stolen from him when he stepped out briefly to talk to someone with the keys still in the ignition.
On April 25, a deputy patrolling the area of Salem Street and Currier Place observed the Malibu parked in an open field. They found Sanders in the back seat with a gunshot wound to the head.
In the ensuing investigation, deputies obtained cell phone records for Larkins and Polnitz that showed the location of the men’s phones around the time of Sanders’ death. According to the arrest report, the phone records indicate Polnitz travelled with Larkins to Washburn Street and was present at the time of the homicide. The men then reportedly traveled to another home on Stockdale Avenue then split up, with Polnitz reportedly traveling down East Johnson Avenue and then making the report of the Malibu being stolen.
According to the report, records show that Larkins traveled from Stockdale Avenue to the area where the vehicle and body of Sanders were dumped near Salem Drive and Currier Place.
°Based on the above facts and circumstances, I believe probable cause exists to show that Antonio Larkins lured Sanders to (the 200 block of) Washburn Street under the assumption he was going to sell Larkins a pound of marijuana,” the investigating officer wrote in his arrest report. “After entering the vehicle occupied by Larkins, Polnitz Jr., and Bonner, Sanders was then robbed and shot/killed for the marijuana.”
The report continues, “Bonner was found to be in possession of the Glock 48 9mm which was a ballistics match to the spent casing found in the Chevy Malibu in which Sanders was killed. Bonner was also found to be in possession of a half-pound of marijuana which was contained in a vacuum bag that was consistent with the packaging of the marijuana Sanders was trying to sell.”
Polnitz and Bonner have been arrested and charged with homicide. Larkins is still wanted for homicide.
Anyone with information on Larkins’ whereabout is urged to contact Crime Stoppers at 850-433-STOP or the ECSO at 850-436-9620.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Two arrested, one sought in homicide of missing Escambia County man
Reporting by Kevin Robinson, Pensacola News Journal / Pensacola News Journal
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