PALMDALE – Authorities have arrested one of two suspects who robbed a man walking home in Palmdale Wednesday morning. They’re now looking for the second suspect who fired several shots as the victim was running away.
The robbery happened around 6 a.m. Wednesday in the 38500 Block of 10th Street East in Palmdale, according to Lt. Cory Kennedy of the Palmdale Sheriff Station.
“The victim is walking home when he’s flagged down by two guys, like they know him, so he walks across the street,” Kennedy said. When both parties realized they didn’t know each other, the suspects began questioning the victim about what was inside his backpack, Kennedy said.
Some time during the exchange, the victim handed over his Kindle to the suspects, who then refused to give it back, Kennedy said.
“The second guy pulls out a gun and says, ‘We’re taking it,’” Kennedy said. “The victim then runs, and as he’s running, he hears multiple shots fired… they were either shooting at him or trying to scare him.”
Around that same time, the Palmdale Sheriff’s Station received a call about shots being fired in that area, Kennedy added. About an hour later, patrol deputies spotted a man walking on 11th Street East, who matched the description of one of the suspects.
The man dipped into an apartment complex in the 38500 Block of 11th Street east, Kennedy said, and after locking down the neighborhood, deputies caught up to the suspect.
The victim positively identified the man in a “field show up” as the suspect who took his Kindle, Kennedy said.
Melvin Harris, 21, was arrested for robbery around 8:30 a.m. Wednesday and booked at the Palmdale Sheriff’s Station in lieu of $50,000 bail.
“We did not find the Kindle and we did not find the gun, so we’re still working on trying to identify the second suspect,” Kennedy said. “Our gang team has taken over the investigation.”
The second suspect is described as Black male, approximately 18 to 20 years old, who was wearing a red and blue baseball-type shirt at the time of the incident, Kennedy said.
Anyone with information on this incident is urged to contact the Palmdale Sheriff’s Station at 661-948-8466. To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
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justice4all says
maybe the person they stole it from was a very nice guy with disablilties who walks that way to work everymorning….and the idoits took advantage of him. pieces of [removed]
jill says
as a resident of 11th east. we need neighborhood watch and armed securities. these youngsters are not afraid of motorized security guards. please save 11th. truly is hell on this block
Nancy P says
Good luck with that Jill.
Johnny Trece says
We need to hire Batman.
AVcares says
Jill try going to all your neighbors and start a neighborhood watch for your street. Watch what’s going on and tell everyone to call the police for anything that looks strange. You have to call and keep calling, the more people see the police going up and down your street the less likely they are to try something…Once you stop calling and give up…they win!!! It worked on our street, we worked with the police and we were even able to get rid of a couple of families that were trouble makers.
NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH can make a difference IF you all stick together and don’t give up!! Good Luck Jill
Raptormann says
The only solution is community based. You, and your neighbors are the only ones who can fix this problem. Don’t expect the government to do it, that’s false hope.
If your neighbors are the problem, then you’re screwed!
Get out while you can.
VillageGirl says
If you are interested in starting a neighborhood watch group you should contact the City’s Public Safety Office @ 267-5170. We started one in my neighborhood last year and it was very easy. All I did was talk to a couple of neighbors to see if they would be interested, we had some burglaries on the next street over, which I admit spurred our interest. I called the city office and spoke directly with one of their officers and presto, within a couple of weeks they dropped off fliers (they made them for us, I was not expecting that!) and my neighbor passed them out. The night of the meeting (on my lawn) we had both a City Crime Prevention Officer and a Deputy show up to explain how the program works and answer our questions. I admit, I was very impressed. They were both very knowledgeable and you could tell they had researched what was happening in our area. The whole process was simple and painless, they provided great tips and information and I was able to meet a couple of my neighbors who I had never met, which makes it nice. I like the feeling that we are all “in it together” and have resources to call if we have concerns. I expect every neighborhood is unique in it’s needs, but I encourage you to give it a try. We did and are glad we feel better connected.
Notagain says
Like I been saying!! To much gettho trash moving up here!!
Raptormann says
The LA County Housing Authority is the culprit here. The actively sent their problems here to become someone else’s problem.
That is how the brave politicians fixed their gang problem,,,,,, by giving it to some one else!
T says
This is why we need to be issued CCW licenses!
Pdale Resident says
Please take all these people out of here! I don’t even feel safe walking to school or my house.
Dodgers #1!! says
Why are people just handing over their things like that?!?! Hell if you dont know the other people why even approach them?!?!
sikntired says
Agree, I don’t get it either.Maybe they’re just naive.
Johnny Trece says
He was demonstrating it. He was probably trying to sell it.
sikntired says
Maybe he stole it and was trying to sell it?