Loved ones and friends of DaShawn Horne gathered in Federal Way on Saturday to celebrate his progress and thank the community. In January, Horne was attacked and beaten with a baseball bat outside an Auburn home.
Those close with DaShawn celebrated his progress while thanking those who stood by the family.
“DaShawn's waking up, my brother's waking up," his sister Danesha Mitchell said.
His journey toward recovery has been long, but family members say Dashawn Horne is a fighter.
“Today is his 50th day at Harborview,” his uncle Rodney King said. “He put his life, basically, on pause and hasn't been able to see his son walk, he started walking since he's been hospitalized.”
Prosecutors say Horne was attacked by 18-year-old Julian Tuimauga who was upset that Horne is black and spent the night with his sister. Loved ones say the alleged “hate crime” even caught them off guard.
"It was shocking, so close to home, never would have expected it and it's disheartening that this actually knocked on our doorstep,” King said.
What followed that ugly incident has brought something beautiful into their lives, the family says they've been surrounded by prayers and support.
“It could be 6 months to a year that he's hospitalized, I just don't want people to fall off from this story,” King explained.
DaShawn was recently able to leave the I-C-U and has been doing some therapy. He's moving forward with his loved ones and community by his side.
