According to Windham police, a 31-year-old Windham man was assaulted in the parking lot at Big Lots in the Windham Mall at around 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 22.

The attack happened after a group of four men called out to the man, who was walking through the parking lot. The group then attacked the man with pipes and sticks after he responded to one of the group calling him by name.

After the beating, the man was able to walk about a quarter of a mile to the North Windham Exxon Station at the corner of routes 302 and 35 to call police.

Windham patrol officer Bill Andrew responded and said the victim was conscious and talking and able to reconstruct the assault. Andrews is still investigating the incident. The man was taken to Maine Medical Center, treated for minor injuries and released.

Windham Lieutenant David DeGruchy said the “people who assaulted him are possibly known to the victim.”