Harrisburg police.JPG

Harrisburg police are investigating the severe beating of a 36-year-old man who traveled to the capital city for a Bernie Sanders rally and voter registration rally

A 35-year-old Hanover man in Harrisburg for a Bernie Sanders rally and voter registration party was severely beaten after leaving the rally, police said.

The victim suffered head trauma and was knocked unconscious in the 3 a.m. attack Sunday in the 2100 block of Logan Street, police said. His condition has since improved but he remained in critical condition Tuesday, according to police and friends.

The attack occurred about a mile and a half away from the rally at the Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center and about 14 hours after the event began.

The victim was with several friends who were looking for a private party when the beating occurred, police said. Police Capt. Gabriel Olivera would not provide any information about what sparked the attack because he said it could hurt the investigation.

Olivera likewise declined to say how many attackers were involved or provide any motive or suspect description.

Information posted by Sanders' supporters on Facebook indicated the victim was struck with bricks, but police said that was not true.

A woman who said she was the victim's mother posted two messages on a Facebook link about the crime.

"We have no idea what was used to hit him with," the woman wrote. "But whatever it was did a lot of damage."

The woman added that there was no information linking the attack to the rally. Police would not say whether the attack was random or not.

Olivera said the release of additional information about the attack could harm the investigation but that he would provide an update when the investigation is complete.

UPDATE: This article was updated to change the headline and correct the victim's age.