Tag Archives: Edgewood

Edgewood Man Sentenced in 2019 Shooting Death

DATE: August 23, 2021
RE: Sentencing of Anthony Martin, Jr.

(Bel Air, Maryland) – Albert J. Peisinger, Jr., State’s Attorney for Harford County, announced the sentencing of Anthony Martin, Jr., 18 of Edgewood, Maryland for first degree murder.

On November 1, 2019 at approximately 3:19am, deputies from the Harford County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 1800 block of Grempler Way in Edgewood, Maryland for a victim suffering from a gunshot wound. The victim was later identified as Joshua Crouse who had a single gunshot wound to his upper torso. Medics tried to revive Mr. Crouse but life saving measures were unsuccessful and he succumbed to his injury.

The resulting investigation revealed that Mr. Crouse met with Anthony Martin, Jr. at a Shell Station in Edgewood. Mr. Crouse arranged to purchase $60 worth of a controlled dangerous substance from Mr. Martin. Mr. Crouse met up with Mr. Martin on Grempler Way. During this meeting, Mr. Martin approached Mr. Crouse with an AR-15 firearm and shot him in the torso while attempting to rob him of his money.

Witnesses on the scene provided a description of Mr. Martin and advised that he was inside of the Shell station shortly before the shooting. Surveillance video from the Shell Station was reviewed and it showed Mr. Martin as described by witnesses. Based upon the video, a photographic array was presented to two witnesses who also identified him.

Mr. Martin pled in the Circuit Court for Harford County before the Honorable Yolanda L. Curtin on July 23, 2021 to one count of murder in the first degree. The case was prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorney Angela Diehl.

The sentencing hearing occurred on August 23, 2021. The victim’s family attended the hearing and the Court heard statements describing the impact this crime had on them and on the community. The Court sentenced Mr. Martin to life suspend all but 40 years of incarceration, to be served at the Division of Corrections, with five years of probation to follow.

Mr. Peisinger expressed condolences to the victim’s family for this tragic and senseless loss.

Mr. Peisinger further thanked the Harford County Sheriff’s Office, emergency response personnel and Assistant State’s Attorney Angela Diehl for their outstanding work and dedication in the investigation and prosecution that resulted in the conviction of Mr. Martin.

Edgewood Woman Pleads Guilty in Stabbing

Albert J. Peisinger, Jr., State’s Attorney for Harford County, announced today the conviction of Kyla
Royster, 24, Edgewood, Maryland, for first degree assault.

On June 7, 2020, deputies of the Harford County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to Deerwood Court,
Edgewood, Maryland. Upon arrival, deputies found a woman bleeding from slash wounds to her neck and face
and a stab wound to her abdomen. Before being transported to Shock Trauma, the woman identified her
assailant as “K.” Deputies met with her again at the hospital, where she was able to identify a photograph of
Kyla Royster as the woman who assaulted her. Deputies obtained a warrant and arrested Kyla Royster when
she was found the following day.

On February 5, 2020, Kyla Royster admitted her guilt at a hearing before the Honorable M. Elizabeth
Bowen. In exchange for her guilty plea, Judge Bowen sentenced her to twenty-five years, suspend all but ten
years to serve, to be followed by five years of probation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorney
Jason I. Allen.

Mr. Peisinger thanked the Harford County Sheriff’s Office, emergency response personnel, and the
University of Maryland Medical System for their outstanding work and dedication in conducting the
investigation that resulted in the conviction of Ms. Royster.