STATESVILLE, N.C. -- A homeless man was beaten and left for dead by a group of teens in Statesville. He clung to life for several dies before passing away early Monday.

Police say the attack happened right in the middle of the street Thursday evening. A driver saw 10 teenagers punching 45-year-old Terry Turner, pushing him and standing on him once he was on the ground. It all happened just a block from the police department and right in front of city offices and the civic center.

The teens took off as help arrived, and Turner was rushed to the hospital but never recovered.

Friends say they’re grief-stricken by the attack on Turner. He was down on his luck and had been living at a shelter on and off for four years. He did odd jobs to make money so he had some cash on him at the time of the attack.

“They killed a man for nothing,” said friend Michelle Wallace.

Police said at this point they don’t know if the beating was a case of gang violence.

Anyone with information that could help detectives should call the Iredell County Crime Stoppers at (704) 437-2677.