A 42-year-old Latino identified as David Gonzales Reyes is clinging to life and remains in a coma in intensive care in a Houston area hospital three weeks after suffering brain injuries during what witnesses say was an unprovoked assault outside a convenience store. The attack happened in broad daylight and was caught on surveillance video on Saturday, July 30, 2022, in Trinity, Texas. The community of 13,800 residents is located 100 miles north of Houston and is 87.7% white according to the 2021 update from the U.S. Census, with only 12% Latino. Reyes has been a longtime resident of the community where he works as a welder and in construction. Police say Reyes did not strike back at the attacker but still classified the incident as a “simple assault.”

“Our family is shocked and can’t understand why David was targeted,” says Ismael Gonzalez Reyes, the victim’s 45-year-old brother. “My brother was leaving the store in the middle of the afternoon when a man went up to him and wouldn’t let him get into his truck. Witnesses said that the man then began hitting my brother and knocked him to the ground, causing David’s head to strike the pavement. There is no evidence that explains why this happened, and the people who saw the attack stated my brother never hit the other man. The doctors tell us his condition is grave, and it will be a long time before he recovers. They have been telling us to take him out, but we are pleading for them to please not force him to be removed.”

LULAC has reached out to officials at HCA hospital located in Conroe, Texas, where Reyes is being treated. They have not responded. The family says both HCA staff and doctors have been repeatedly pressuring them and stating, “take him back to Mexico and have relatives care for him there.” Ismael Reyes says this is unjust. “My brother was the victim of a crime, and HCA needs to understand we do not have the knowledge or skills to help him. Taking him out will kill my brother!” adds Reyes.

“HCA Healthcare must immediately stop trying to force the family to remove their loved one from the hospital,” says Rodolfo Rosales, Jr., Texas LULAC State Director. “This company earned $58.75 billion in 2021, a significant portion of that, off of Latino patients. HCA has the moral responsibility to show compassion and do everything it can to help a defenseless victim of a brutal crime, possibly one driven by racial hatred. Texas LULAC stands with the Reyes family and is taking action to advocate for David’s continued care,” said Rosales.