A 34-year-old man is being hunted by Manatee County deputies after he allegedly walked up to a 15-year-old boy sitting outside his own home in Bradenton and stabbed him repeatedly in the neck and upper body before running off. The attack happened shortly before 3 p.m. Tuesday in the 600 block of 33rd Avenue Drive East, and the suspect, identified as Quazone Elijawun Taylor, has not been found.
According to IONTB, Taylor allegedly attacked the teen without provocation before fleeing the scene. Deputies with the Manatee County Sheriff's Office responded quickly, deploying SWAT personnel and drone units to search the victim's home and the surrounding neighborhood, including checking the residence's attic where they suspected Taylor might be hiding. Despite that immediate and intensive search, Taylor was not located.
The teen was rushed to a regional hospital for treatment of multiple stab wounds to his neck and upper body, IONTB reports. His injuries were listed as serious but non-life-threatening.
Sheriff's Office Warns Public Not to Approach
Authorities describe Taylor as a Black male standing approximately 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighing around 160 pounds, according to WENG Radio. Investigators have warned residents that he is considered dangerous and should not be approached if spotted. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Manatee County Sheriff's Office directly, or to reach CrimeStoppers of Manatee County anonymously.
The case is the latest to be featured in the Sheriff's Office's ongoing “Warrant Wednesday” public-assistance campaign, according to a post from the Manatee County Sheriff's Office. The bulletin lists Taylor as wanted for attempted murder and asks the public to help track him down. CrimeStoppers of Manatee County offers anonymous tipsters cash rewards of up to $3,000 for information leading to an arrest or the execution of a warrant in active local felony cases.
What Attempted Felony Murder Means Under Florida Law
Taylor is wanted on a charge of attempted felony murder, a designation with significant legal weight in Florida. Under Florida Statute § 782.051(1), attempted felony murder involving an enumerated underlying felony is classified as a first-degree felony punishable by up to life in state prison and $10,000 in fines, according to Online Sunshine, the state's official legislative resource.
The charge differs from attempted premeditated murder in a key way. Per LegalMatch, prosecutors pursuing attempted felony murder are not required to prove an explicit intent to kill — only that an intentional, dangerous act occurred during a felony that could have caused death. That standard can make it easier for prosecutors to secure a conviction in cases involving sudden, violent assaults like the one described in Bradenton, even absent evidence of advance planning.
A Broader Look at Crime Trends in Manatee County
The manhunt comes even as overall crime in Manatee County has been trending downward. Data released by the Manatee County Sheriff's Office in March indicated that overall crime in the county fell nearly 20% between 2024 and 2025. Of the 13,099 criminal court cases processed in Manatee County in 2025, 56.9% resulted in a guilty finding, 27.3% had adjudication withheld, and 2.6% were dismissed, per FloridaCourtFile.
The Manatee County Sheriff's Office is led by Sheriff Charles R. Wells, who was first elected in 2016 and has since won re-election in both 2020 and 2024. The agency has leaned heavily on public tip campaigns to close out violent felony cases, a pattern reflected in several recent “Warrant Wednesday” bulletins, including a felony stalking manhunt and a separate search for a man wanted on a battery charge. The office also recently investigated a Palmetto-area shooting that injured three people and was described by deputies as targeted.
Anyone with information on Taylor's whereabouts is urged to contact the Manatee County Sheriff's Office at 941-747-3011 or to submit an anonymous tip to CrimeStoppers of Manatee County, Inc. at 1-866-634-TIPS. As of Wednesday, Taylor remained at large.
