SAN FRANCISCO—A man was shot in the back while fleeing a group of four suspects on Friday, May 29 in San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf.

At approximately 12:30 a.m., two male and two female suspects approached the victim, who was leaving a restaurant near the crossing of Leavenworth and Jefferson Streets.

Prior to the assault, the suspects demanded to know if the 22-year-old victim was in a gang, an inquiry that has led to speculation that the assailants themselves were gang-affiliated.

Shortly after approaching the victim, one of the suspects smashed a beer bottle over his head, temporarily stunning him before he started to run away from his attackers. It was then that shots were fired, one of which struck the victim in his lower body, puncturing his colon.

The suspects, who have yet to be publicly profiled apart from their gender and approximated age of 17-18, fled the scene immediately after the shooting.

For his part, the victim was transported to a nearby hospital with non-lethal injuries.

Law enforcement is asking for public help in apprehending the suspects, one of whom was also carrying a knife.

Anyone with knowledge of Friday morning’s shooting is asked to contact the SFPD anonymous tip line at (415) 575-4444 or text a tip to TIP411 with SFPD at the beginning of the message.