TORONTO (CP) _ Police say a man attacked by a group of young panhandlers after refusing them change died in hospital Saturday morning of his injuries.

Ross Hammond, 32, and a friend were approached early Thursday morning after a night out in downtown Toronto by four panhandlers in their early 20s.

Toronto police homicide Det.-Sgt. Gary Giroux says the verbal confrontation quickly escalated into violence, with Hammond being stabbed several times and his friend being physically assaulted.

Emergency crews arrived on scene and rushed Hammond, his friend and one of the panhandlers, who suffered minor injuries, to a nearby hospital.

Hammond's friend was released with minor injuries, and the injured panhandler was released and arrested at the hospital.

The remaining three panhandlers were later arrested near the scene.

Douglas Fresh, 22; Nicole Kish, 21; Sarah McDermit, 22; and Jeremy Woolley, 21, have each been charged with aggressive assault.

Giroux says he suspects the charges will be upgraded to murder in the next couple of days following Hammond's death.

He is Toronto's 51st homicide victim of 2007.