San Francisco homeless man brutally beaten by man with metal rod

SAN FRANCISCO -- San Francisco police are asked the public's help in identifying a suspect in an unprovoked attack on a homeless man near the Tenderloin.

Police are hoping someone recognizes the man in surveillance video seen smashing the victim in the head with some kind of pipe or bat.

Surveillance video clearly shows a man walking on Larkin Street and when he reaches a homeless man sitting against a wall he attacks the man.

"Pulls out a blunt metal object and, almost like a baseball swing, swings it across the left side of the victims head, knocking him unconscious," said San Francisco police officer Carlos Manfredi.

The incident happened a little before 9:30 p.m. Wednesday night.

Manfredi says the victim lost a lot of blood and needed 50 stitches. He's taking this case personally because he knows the homeless man.

"He's a very nice man. He doesn't try to harm anyone. He always says hi to everyone who says hi to him," Manfredi said.

The owner of the Gangway Bar also knows the victim. He says his name is Robert.

"The Robert victim, he's a regular guy," said Jung Lee. "He sit here morning, day, night. You know, every day, maybe a decade, 10 years."

It seems a lot of people know Robert.

"He was a pain in the butt for the most part but he was OK. He never bothered anybody," said Fredrick McCallister, a San Francisco resident.

Fredrick McCallister brought flowers and candles to the scene.

"These are like, little flowers, maybe they'll help him get better," McCallister said.

Officers do not think the attacker is homeless. They hope someone will recognize him and call police.

"We want to send a strong message to anyone who thinks it's OK to do this. If we catch you, you will be incarcerated," Manfredi added.

The suspect could be charged with attempted murder.