Edmonton police are investigating a violent assault that has left a 17-year-old in hospital with life-threatening injuries.

In a news release, police say that at approximately 9:27 Sunday evening, officers responded to reports of an assault in the Griesbach area of north Edmonton.

Police found the 17-year-old male semi-conscious lying in the parking lot behind a large condominium complex on McCrae Ave and Castle Downs Road.

“He was conscious only to the point he could scream,” Acting Sgt. Lawrence Avery said. “He wasn’t able to speak or anything like that.”

The teen was treated at the scene and transported to hospital with unknown injuries.

Because of the victim's injuries, police have been unable to interview him about the assault – the teen remains in intensive care at the Royal Alexandra Hospital, at last word he was in and out of consciousness with a degree of brain damage.

“He may survive but he’s never going to be the same,” Avery said. “This is a very serious assault and we need to find who’s responsible for this.”

Witnesses in the area say the teen was allegedly assaulted by three males who fled in a car parked at an adjacent strip mall at 153 Ave and Castle Downs Road.

The suspects are described as Caucasian males in their 20s, with short hair and wearing dark clothing. Their vehicle is described as a dark four-door sedan.

Edmonton police are asking for help from the public in providing any information that might help identify the suspects.

Anonymous information can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.tipsubmit.com/start.htm.

With files from Dan Grummett