A man dressed as Santa was shot in the back with a pellet gun while handing out presents to underprivileged children in Southeast DC. Naturally.
WJLA/ABC 7 (“Xavier Hawkins, “Southeast Santa,” shot with pellet gun at toy giveaway“):
A man in a Santa Claus suit who has been identified as Xavier Hawkins was shot in the back with a pellet gun Tuesday morning during a toy giveaway in a part of Southeast Washington plagued by crime.
The video is disturbing. The man dressed as Santa has led the annual Barry Farm gift giveaway for the last seven years, and according to an ABC7 photographer who was interviewing the victim at the time of the shooting, the he was struck in his upper back then transported to a nearby hospital with the pellet still lodged in his shoulder.
Later on Tuesday, we saw Xavier Hawkins again after he was released from the hospital. He showed us the tear in his Santa suit as well as the scene of the depraved crime:
“Oh, here’s the hole. That’s where I got shot — right there.”
In the video, you can hear Hawkins’ booming voice faltering after being hit. It was an act of violence appalling on more levels than we can fathom.
“It’s sad news, but I’m not surprised with what’s going on around here,” said SE resident Tasharn Richardson.
[…]
Even as paramedics treated his wounds, “Santa” stayed remarkably festive – in fact, he wanted to stay and give out gifts, but medics said no.
So this year, a D.C. ambulance replaced the sleigh in Southeast.
“It”s all good, it’s not going to stop the show,” said Hawkins.
At least — not with the families of 600 children waiting for 1,800 donated toys. Thanks to the Grinch, Christmas was saved at Barry Farm.
“This year, I decided to give back. My heart grew three times,” said the man dressed up as the famous Christmas antihero.
Seriously, what’s wrong with people?
