LAKEWOOD, OH — Police are investigating an assault that happened on Monday night in Lakewood's Birdtown. A 39-year-old man was left bloodied and unconscious when four men attacked him.

In a 911 call obtained by Patch, a caller said he happened to be walking on Madison Avenue, near Winchester, when he saw four people beating the man down. After leaving the man lying, they jumped into a car and drove off. Police said the fight may have started as a purely verbal argument, which escalated. The victim reportedly took off his jacket and shirt and confronted the men in the car, who then got out of their vehicle and attacked him.

In a press release sent out after Patch first reported this story, police said they do not know what motivated the attack. They do not believe it was gang related. The caller reached out to police at 7:40 p.m. He said he had taken a photograph of the suspects' car, but was unable to get the license plate. The suspect's appeared to be driving a Chevy Cavalier, according to police records. The vehicle was dark green.

A post to social media by the victim suggested the attack was the work of the Heartless Felons gang, but Captain Ed Hassing of Lakewood Police said there is no sign of gang involvement in the attack. Hassing said he could not yet disclose why gang activity had been ruled out. The matter remains under investigation.

The victim's post has been shared on social media more than 2,700 times.

Here is the 911 call that was made to police: