A 19-year-old man is facing a charge of assault causing bodily harm after a 57-year-old man was beaten last week for attempting to stop the theft of a pumpkin.

The incident happened at a grocery store in Aylmer last Thursday night.

Gatineau police said a couple was riding a bike on chemin Aylmer around 10:30 p.m. Thursday when they saw a young man stealing a pumpkin from an IGA grocery store.

When the 57-year-old man asked the other to put the pumpkin back, a fight broke out.

Police said the older man fell to the ground and suffered a serious head injury.

The victim remains in critical condition in hospital.