DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Men dressed in black with covered faces are hunting and then slashing random strangers with razor blades as part of a gang initiation, police warned residents.

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PHOTOS: Several Slashed With Blades

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Investigators said a gang in Flagler County is sending its future members to Daytona Beach to seek out victims to cut.

Once a gang recruit slashes a stranger, he gains the respect of his peers and is inducted into their underground society, police told Local 6's Tarik Minor.

The latest victims have prompted a warning to the community from police.

"It could be anybody they see," Daytona Beach police Sgt. Bill Walden said. "In both incidents, it was just someone walking down the road, taken by surprise."

Joshua Burgundy, one of the victims, required 22 staples after suffering slash wounds on his abdomen and back.

"That's close to my heart, you know. Just a little bit up would've been my heart," Burgundy said, showing his scars. "I thought I was going to die. I mean, that was the only thing that was going through my mind."

Burgundy and another victim told Daytona Beach police that the assailants jumped out of a car, approached them and slashed them with razor blades without saying a word.

"Even when they left they did not say one word. They didn't try to go in my pockets. They didn't try to take anything from me. They didn't ask for anything. I just felt they were out to kill me," Burgundy said.

Burgundy said the assailants were wearing all-black clothing with red bandanas covering their faces.

Dozens of stitches were required for the other victim's wounds, police said.

Anyone with information concerning the crimes is urged to call Crimeline at 800-423-TIPS.

Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.