A 22-year-old man is recovering after being attacked on his way home from the St-Henri metro station in what appears to be a random act of violence

Andre Hobson was on his way home at 10:30 p.m. on Dec. 1 when he noticed the gang of four men following him for several blocks before they jumped on him at Notre-Dame St. and De Courcelle St.

Four people wearing bandanas and surgical masks punched him, knocked him to the ground, and kicked him in the face as he screamed that he didn't have anything to steal.

The beating lasted only a few seconds before witnesses yelled at the group and they fled.

“I just dropped my cat food and went to help him out,” said witness Lou Panizzi. “I was afraid that if he was going to pass out, this is where we could have lost him.”

Those witnesses called 9-1-1 and Hobson was taken to hospital and treated for a broken nose, a fractured jaw, and had several large cuts stitched.

"There were many times in the hospital where I didn't think that I was going to wake up," said Hobson.

His mother Donna Hobson said the attack makes no sense.

“He was meeting my grandson there because he owes him money. I think they were sitting there and they noticed an exchange of money and maybe they thought they gave him something in return, so maybe that was the motive why they did this,” she said.

"It's scary because he's not a troublemaker, he's a good kid, minds his own business. He's never been into a fight with anybody, never says anything bad about anybody… He's a loner, and then to have this happen to him. And when they pushed him down he kept yelling at them that he has nothing on him."

Hobson dropped his wallet during the attack. It had $10 in it.

Meantime, the young man said the event has left him traumatized.

“I’m scared to go outside,” he said. “Pretty nervous.”

Two men in their 20s were also beaten up in the area by a group of teens on Sunday evening. Police believe the attackers may be the same ones who beat up Hobson.

No arrests have been made.

Borough councillor Craig Sauvé is encouraging residents concerned about safety to come to Tuesday's council meeting and pose questions to a police officer who will be in attendance.