Image copyright Fairfax County Police Image caption Mr Proulx was having lunch with his wife when the group attacked him
Police in the United States say four dirt bike riders and an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) rider allegedly attacked an elderly man with guns, knives and pellet guns.
The attack on 74-year-old Mr Paulinus Proulx took place in Boston on Tuesday. He was sitting in his car having lunch with his wife when the group allegedly began attacking him.
The police say Mr Proulx was “badly injured and left with non-life threatening injuries”.
Officers stopped the four suspects, aged 22 to 27.
“We don’t believe the incident was random,” Boston Police Commissioner William Evans told a news conference.
“We believe the group of individuals came from Essex County, Connecticut and went to Boston specifically for this event.”
Massachusetts State Police arrested the four men after making the arrests on Tuesday afternoon. They have been charged with malicious damage, intimidation of a witness, weapons possession and receiving stolen property.
The police added that the men had been using ATVs and dirt bikes for “illegal off-road activity”.
“These young men were basically opportunists,” Police Commissioner Evans said.
Image copyright AP Image caption Mr Proulx was left “badly injured and left with non-life threatening injuries”
Earlier this year, a man was accused of attacking two Massachusetts State Police officers in a fight over dirt bikes.
Mohammed Fadli was allegedly drunk and angry when he attacked the officers in February, according to reports. He was later charged with assaulting a police officer, rioting and firearms offences.