RICHMOND, Va. -- A man is recovering at VCU Medical Center, hours removed from brain surgery, after he was attacked and beaten outside a Shockoe Bottom pizzeria early Wednesday morning.

Crime Insider sources tell Jon Burkett that from looking at surveillance video, the attack that nearly killed him, came out of nowhere.

Standing outside a pizza place at the corner of 18th and Main Streets, two men were attacked, according to police.

Crime Insider sources said the 28-year-old victim was hit so hard in his temple that he stiffened and fell hard to the concrete sidewalk.

"It's impossible to stop every psycho that will beat someone up over a slice of pizza. It's a cultural problem that we can't have in Shockoe Bottom,” David Napier, president of the Shockoe Bottom Association, said.

Police have not confirmed the motive for the attack but sources said it appeared to be a random attack.

Those same sources said the victim, who was still in critical condition, appeared on the pizza shop surveillance video, suffering the vicious beating. The second victim suffered minor injuries.

When reached on the phone, the victim's mother said she was disheartened and concerned. She said it was a shame you can't stand outside without the fear of getting pummeled for no reason.

"The buck stops with the mayor,” said Napier. “He got to take a hard look at it. It's his city for the next four to eight years. We'd love to work with him in any way possible. The officers that I know would want this problem to go away. We just need to re think our strategy a little bit.”

Napier said that this type of crime can cause what he calls the "economic engine" of this city to sputter, and hopes police catch whoever attacked the men.

"We have a very bad look right now because there's so much construction in the market. But when all of this is built out by next summer, we're going to have a beautiful downtown city center. The investment the city made down here will not pay off until they take this neighborhood seriously."

Crime Insider sources said police have good suspect information and an arrest was imminent.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 804-780-1000.

Witnesses can email news tips and photos here.