18-Year-Old Bicycle Rider in Critical Condition With Skull Fracture, May Lose Hand After Late-Night Machete Attack

An 18-year-old bicycle rider was in critical condition and may lose a hand after four men used a machete to attack him in the street early Sunday, Los Angeles police said.

After the group exited a green, four-door sedan, they approached the bike rider about 12:35 a.m. and one assailant began hacking the victim with a machete, KTLA-TV reported.

The victim lost a lot of blood after getting wounded in the head and hand, Sgt. Melvin Gamble of the Los Angeles Police Department told KTLA. Doctors may need to amputate the injured hand, the station said, adding that the victim also suffered a fractured skull.

The victim was able to run a few blocks to the intersection of 11th and Burlington, the Los Angeles Times reported.

A KTLA reporter added on camera that the attackers took cash from the victim; the station said they also took the bike and fled the scene.

Investigators have not released suspect descriptions or the victim's identity, but KTLA reported that the attack was likely gang-related.

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