Baseball Bat Attack Sends Teen to Hospital; Suspect at Large

Sacramento Sheriff's Department deputies are searching for a suspect following the beating of an Orangevale teen that occurred Monday.

The assault occurred outside Orangevale's Pershing Elementary School around 10 p.m. when the suspect, an 18-year-old described as being of Asian-American descent with black hair, approached the male victim, 18, and struck him in the back of the head with an aluminum baseball bat. The victim fell toward the ground and the suspect continued to strike him in the legs and body, according to a deputy's report. The victim's friend attempted to assist his friend and the suspect struck the friend in the arm.

Jason Ramos, spokesman for Sac Sheriff's Department explained the victim and his friend likely knew the suspect prior to the assault.

"He (the victim) said that the suspect likely assaulted him based on the belief that the victim was somehow involved with the suspect's girlfriend," Ramos said in an e-mailed response.

The suspect demanded that the victim empty his pockets. The victim complied, relinquishing his cell phone, keys and wallet to the suspect. The suspect then made the same demand of the suspect's friend; however, the friend did not have a cell phone and did not give the suspect anything. The suspect then fled on foot. He was not located.

The victim sustained a laceration to his head and swelling to the side of his face. The victim's friend did not sustain any injuries. The victim was transported to a hospital for treatment and is expected to make a full recovery.

"The injured victim was able to give a good statement about the incident, and is expected to be recovering from his injuries," Ramos said. "The department believes they can identify the suspect, issue a warrant for his arrest, and find him."

If caught the suspect will likely face felony charges of assault with a deadly weapon, in addition to felony robbery charges, Ramos said.