Four Youths Charged With Attacking, Attempting To Rob Bicyclist (VIDEO)

A group of four boys have been charged with attacking and attempting to rob a male bicyclist riding along a bike path along Lake Shore Drive on the city's Near South Side around 9:30 p.m. Wednesday evening.

The 37-year-old victim said the boys hit him with a replica wooden rifle, a blow which knocked him off his bike, according to police, as the Chicago Sun-Times reports. After he fell to the ground, the four boys -- aged between 10 and 16 -- allegedly began kicking and punching him in the head and demanding he give them his money.

When the bicyclist said he did not have any money and handed over his book bag, his alleged assailants took the bag and began walking away. When they saw a marked squad car making a traffic stop not far away, the dropped the bag and ran, before police apprehended them on the 35th Street overpass, the Sun-Times reports.

All four boys, who were originally part of a larger group of youths, were charged with aggravated battery and attempted robbery, according to CBS Chicago.

Photo by tony.bailey via Flickr.

WATCH the victim describe the attack and attempted robbery:

View more videos at: http://nbcchicago.com.