SPRING VALLEY, Calif. -- Authorities on Tuesday sought the public's help in the search for three men suspected of severely beating another man in an alley in Spring Valley.

The victim, Russell Hinton, was attacked shortly after he and a female friend left De Oro Mine Company Bar, 9924 Campo Road, on Saturday June 13 at around 12:45 a.m., according to San Diego County sheriff's spokeswoman Susan Knauss.

Hinton and his friend had just started walking through a nearby alley when three men who had been at the same bar allegedly caught up with the couple. One of the suspects lunged toward Hinton's friend as if to hit her, prompting Hinton to run away, apparently to draw attention away from his friend, Knauss said.

All three suspects then chased Hinton to the 9900 block of Dolores Street, where they were seen hovering over him, two of them holding broken cue sticks, according to Knauss.

Hinton sustained life-threatening injuries and it is still unclear whether he will recover, Knauss said.

All three suspects were described as being white males, between 19 and 23 years old.

One was described as being about 6 feet 2 and 190 pounds, with blond hair and a light complexion. Another was described as being about 5 feet 7 and 160 pounds, with brown hair; while the third was described as being about 5 feet 6 and 150 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to contact San Diego County Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477 or www.sdcrimestoppers.com. A $1,000 reward is available for information leading to an arrest. Tipsters can choose to remain anonymous.