Detectives are calling 29-year-old Marcus Edmonds of Palmdale a wanted, dangerous fugitive who has managed to elude capture for weeks. They say he is tied to a violent armed robbery and other criminal acts in the Palmdale area.
They also say his face has been featured on the local crime show "Palmdale's Most Wanted." The suspect and several other men are accused of kicking in the apartment door of the 16-year-old boy and beating him unconscious on Monday.
Detectives say the teenager pointed at the man in a grocery store and told him he saw him on "Palmdale's Most Wanted."
"The comment was made, something to the effect of, 'I saw him on "Most Wanted,'' ' or 'I saw you on "Most Wanted," ' there was a glance and an argument that ensued a little bit," said Robbie Royster with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
Sheriff's deputies say the suspect and victim then went their separate ways until Edmonds showed up at the victim's apartment with at least a dozen men. The teenager was reportedly in his apartment with his mother and 4-year-old brother.
"They hear a large pounding at the door and mom looks through the peep hole. Mom, she immediately recognizes Mr. Edmonds, obviously she's seen him on 'Palmdale's Most Wanted,' as well," said Royster. "She didn't open the door, at that time is when they kick open the door."
According to Royster, the door flew open and hit the 4-year-old in the face. The group of men then entered the unit and attacked the teen.
Shareese Session, the apartment manager, said the teen is doing fine since the beating. She had no other information.
As deputies search for Edmonds, they are putting out a warning.
"We do consider him armed and dangerous," said Royster. "If anybody does see him, we're asking don't make comments towards him, don't try and apprehend him."
Anyone who knows of Edmonds' whereabouts or who spots Edmunds should call Crime Stoppers immediately at (800) 222-8477.
