TAMPA, Fla. — A brutal attack in Ybor City has left a young man hospitalized and his friends and family calling for justice.

According to Tampa Police, it happened at 1:17 a.m. Monday as he approached one of his favorite rappers for a picture after a concert.

“It just happened in the blink of an eye. They just kept hitting him,” said Connor Villa, a friend who attended the concert with the victim.

Villa said the attack came out of nowhere.

“I just froze. I didn’t know what to do,” he said. 

Villa said he and his friend, George Obregon, 20, were at Club Skye on E. 8th Ave. for a concert by the rapper Nardo Wick.

In a still image taken from video of the attack, George Obregon can be seen approaching the rapper with his cell phone to take a picture. (Courtesy Yorgen)

“Nardo Wick has been George’s, like one of George’s favorite artists for a long time. He went and saw him in Miami at Rolling Loud for the past three years,” Villa said. “And for this to happen, it’s just - it’s so sad.”

Witness video shows Obregon walking up to the rapper after the show. Someone punches him in the side of the head before a second person starts hitting him, knocking Obregon to the ground.

“He was barely standing, actually. And he was about to lean on the wall. It’s almost like he got tased, and he got hit three to four times after that,” Villa said. “I don’t know what possesses someone to hit someone like that or what threat they thought he was under, but there was no threat.”

Obregon’s mother, Michelle Obregon, told Spectrum News her son suffered a brain bleed and concussion as a result of the beating.

“Seeing someone that I’ve known for years and someone that I’m so close to get…like, he was defenseless - get defenselessly hit so hard and multiple times and get knocked out, it’s something no one should ever have to go through,” Villa said.

Nardo Wick released a statement on Instagram saying he reached out to Obregon’s family to ask how he was and offer to make it up to him.

“I don’t condone that situation that happened,” Wick said. “I don’t stand for that situation that happened. I was fully unaware that the situation was about to take place. As soon as that happened, I tried to de-escalate the situation.”

Tampa Police Department (Facebook)

Villa said he would like to see more of an effort from the rapper.

“I understand that is not what he wanted to happen,” said Villa. “He did rip the guys off, but his apology doesn’t do much. The two guys that hit George are not apprehended, and it’s a little disappointing because I know that they left in the car with him.”

Tampa Police released photos of the suspects believed to be involved and said they appear to be affiliated with the rapper. Michelle Obregon said her family is asking everyone involved, including Nardo Wick, to do the right thing and cooperate with law enforcement. 

Anyone with information on this case is asked to call Tampa Police at (813) 231-6130 or Crime Stoppers at 800-231-TIPS (8477).