A former UC Davis football player is clinging to life after being shot in the head during a robbery attempt in Los Angeles.

Chris Martin, 27, a wide receiver at UCD hailing from Chula Vista, suffered the critical injury while celebrating his birthday last weekend, his family told the television station KTLA.

According to police, Martin and his friends had left a nightclub and were near a restaurant on the Sunset Strip around 3 a.m. April 16 when someone pulled a gun on one of Martin’s friends and demanded his valuables.

Martin intervened, and that’s when the suspect shot him in the head, authorities said. He’s been hospitalized in critical condition since then.

Relatives have started a GoFundMe crowdfunding page to cover the cost of his medical expenses, raising nearly $29,000 as of Friday afternoon.

UCD Athletic Director Rocko DeLuca posted a link to the page on his Twitter feed.

“Christopher Martin a proud @UCDfootball alum could use your prayers as he’s fighting for his life,” DeLuca wrote. “His family has created a gofundme to help support his medical care. Please help if you’re able.”

Martin played 46 games in four years with the Aggies from 2013 to 2016.