Man loses thumb in machete attack in Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES -- A man in his 40s had his thumb cut off and suffered serious injuries after being attacked by four men, including one who wielded a machete early Sunday morning in the Pico-Union area. The suspects remain at large.

Around 12:35 a.m., a man walking his bicycle when he was confronted by four other Hispanic men who tried to take the bicycle.

The suspects, all of whom are between the ages of 19 and 21, began attacking the victim and one of them used a machete to hack at the victim's hands in an attempt to steal the man's bicycle and some money.

During the struggle, the man had his thumb cut off and suffered cuts to his hands and a skull fracture.

The suspects then fled the scene in a green, four-door sedan without taking the bicycle or money. The victim then walked two blocks north and collapsed in front of a liquor store.

He was taken to a nearby hospital and was in critical, but stable condition.

No further information on the suspects was immediately available, and it is unclear if the incident was gang related.

The investigation is ongoing.

City News Service contributed to this report.