An argument between a visitor to the city and another man turned violent on State Street early Thursday morning. 

Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said the victim, 51, from Port Huron, Michigan, was having an animated conversation over religion and evolution with several older men around 3:00 a.m. on State Street when he was attacked by another young man who entered the conversation. The young man pushed the victim and kicked him in the head, Verveer said. 

Verveer said the location and time of night may have contributed to the incident. 

“I think the suspect was influenced by alcohol given the time of night,” Verveer said. 

One of the homeless men, whom the victim was speaking with, provided information to police, a Madison Police Department statement said. The suspect was reported as a male in their late teens to early twenties with short dark hair and a medium build, the statement said. 

The incident was documented by cameras, Verveer said, and the police are hopeful they will locate the suspect.