Friends and coworkers of Sam Whitehorn, a 26-year-old assault victim and Green Bay Packers fan, have planned a fundraiser Wednesday to help pay for medical and living expenses.

Police are working through leads received after news spread about Whitehorn's was assaulted Jan. 16 outside Muu Muu's in Northwest Portland and left clinging for life. By some accounts, he was attacked because he wore his favorite Packers beanie after watching a playoff game. Police on Friday released surveillance images of three men identified as people of interest.

"We have received a number of tips regarding the Whitehorn case, and the detective is sorting through them," said Sgt. Pete Simpson, Portland police spokesman. "No arrest has been made, and if or when we do, we will post an update."

Just before midnight Jan. 16, officers found Whitehorn unconscious near Northwest 21st Avenue and Hoyt Street. Witnesses said he had been arguing with a group of three or four men when one punched him, causing him to fall and hit his head. He sustained a traumatic brain injury and fractured skull that will require months of recovery, Whitehorn's mother told The Oregonian/OregonLive on Thursday.

He had been celebrating some friends' engagement at Muu Muu's bar while watching his Green Bay Packers go up against the Arizona Cardinals. His friends are regular customers at The Abbey Bar & Bottle Shop where Whitehorn works, said Abbey owner Bristol Kelley.

"We are all pretty torn up about what happened, and we know he has a long road ahead of him," Kelley said in an email. "To help, we are holding a fundraiser for him this Wednesday, January 27th. We are getting donations of beer, and all profits from that day will go directly to Sam."

The event will run from 2 to 11 p.m. Wednesday at The Abbey, 716 N.W. 21st Ave. More information can be found on or The Abbey's website.

Also, a separate effort on the website GoFundMe has raised almost $50,000 from more than 1,000 donors since it was established last week.

-- Tony Hernandez

thernandez@oregonian.com

503-294-5928

@tonyhreports