The family of a Fort Worth man assaulted after leaving a bar is praying for his recovery and hoping someone can help police find the men responsible.
"At one point, honestly, I didn't know if he was going to live or die," said Mike Hawkins, the victim's brother.
Darren Hawkins, 48, stayed in a coma for nearly a week-and-a-half after the Oct. 23 attack.
The father of two remains in the intensive care unit at Texas Health Harris Methodist in Fort Worth.
"He's progressing quite well. He's conscious," Mike Hawkins said. "There's a lot of blanks that more than likely, he'll never be able to fill in."
The attack happened in the early morning hours, when Darren Hawkins left a Fort Worth bar with four women after celebrating their 30th high school reunion.
The five friends shared a ride service with two other men.
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There was an argument, and when the driver pulled over near West 7th Street and University Drive to force the two strangers out, things turned ugly.
"They didn't know who these guys were," said Mike Hawkins. "Darren exited the vehicle, flipped down the seat, and in a cowardly way, this guy jumps him, slams him to the ground and administers a brutal beating."
"I hope he's out of hospital for the birth of his granddaughter that's coming in December," Mike Hawkins said.
Fort Worth police don't have much to go on, but Hawkins's family hopes someone comes forward to help.
"Senseless and needless," said Mike Hawkins, "for someone to be beat like that, that ridiculous. If I knock you out you're incapacitated. Now I'm just trying to murder you."
Coworkers at Union Pacific are now raising money to help Darren Hawkins.
