A cyclist is recovering after being beaten in what detectives believe is a "knockout game" attack along a Philadelphia street.
The male victim was riding his bike along the 900 block of Catherine Street in the Bella Vista section of the city just before 8 p.m. on Friday when he was randomly punched by a group of teens, police said.
After being hit, police say the cyclist asked the group -- made up of five teen boys and three teen girls -- why they hit him. Without answering, the group then continued beating the man.
The victim met up with police at Broad and Carpenter Streets following the attack.
Philadelphia detectives tell NBC10 they believe the teens were playing the "knockout game" when they beat the man.
Far from fun, the 'game' consists of a doer suddenly punching a stranger to try and knock them out.
Several "knockout" beatings have taken place across the country over recent months -- with attacks taking place in Washington, D.C. and New York City.
NYPD arrested four men on Friday for an attack in Brooklyn on a 24-year-old man. A 51-year-old man died in May after falling victim to a group of teens playing the 'game.'
Two attacks at SEPTA stations over the past few weeks had officials in Philadelphia concerned the violent trend had come here. However, authorities say those attacks were not related.
As for Friday night's attack, the cyclist's injuries were not life-threatening and he did not need to be hospitalized, police said.
The teens remain at large.
Meanwhile a local group of concerned citizens calling themselves "Taking Our South Philadelphia Streets Back" have launched an online campaign to bring the "knockout" game to the attention of the city's leaders, including Mayor Nutter and Commissioner Charles Ramsey.
"Our citizens are sick and tired of living in fear due to teens thinking this is a game," wrote the group's leader Marc Ferguson. "I am here by calling upon the District Attorney, Mayor Michael Nutter, City Council and all of Philadelphia’s legislators to come together and KNOCK OUT, “The Knock Out Game”."
Ferguson writes that he wants the culprits to be charged with a hate crime, aggravated assault, conspiracy, attempted murder reckless endangerment and "anything else that can be added on."
"Then once this is agreed upon, we will stand as one, at a press conference and announce what we will be doing to ensure that this game is only won by us, the city of Philadelphia and it’s citizens," he wrote.
Contact Vince Lattanzio at 610.668.5532, vince.lattanzio@nbcuni.com or follow @VinceLattanzio on Twitter.
Photo Credit: NBC10.com