IMPERIAL BEACH, Calif. -- A $1,000 reward was being offered Wednesday for information leading to the arrest of five suspected gang members who beat up an off-duty firefighter, blinding him in one eye.

The Feb. 24 attack in the parking lot of a Jack-in-the-Box at 890 Palm Ave. in Imperial Beach occurred at about 8:45 p.m., according to San Diego County Crime Stoppers, which is offering the reward.

Off-duty firefighter Gary Dejong was walking with two friends past a parked two-door Honda Civic with people inside throwing out trash, authorities said.

One of Dejong's friends said something to the litterbugs, and a fight started.

Five young men, in their late teens or early 20s, got out of the car and beat Dejong and his friends with beer bottles and baseball bats, authorities said.

Dejong, who works for the Barona Fire Department, had a cut to the back of his head, a damaged pupil and a fractured eye socket, which led him to lose all sight in his left eye, according to Crime Stoppers officials.

Anyone with more information was asked to call Crime Stoppers at 888-580-Tips.