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The man dressed as Santa Claus and walking along Stevens Road in Southeast Washington saw three babies peering at him from a window, and he did what any Santa would do. Pumped with holiday cheer, he turned, waved and shouted the traditional festive greeting.
Man, this is awesome, Xavier Hawkins exclaimed on Christmas Eve morning, as he prepared to hand out presents to 800 needy children. Oh, yes, Merry . . .
But before the 50-year-old from Marylands Eastern Shore could say Christmas, a sharp pain cut through his upper back. The driver for the global moving firm Interstate, and Santa for seven consecutive years, had been hit with at least one blast from a pellet gun.
The wound was minor a large welt and Hawkins was quickly treated at a hospital and released. The shooting of Santa wascaptured by a television cameraman for WJLA (Channel 7), who was reporting a story on the 22nd annual gift event.
After he was shot, Hawkins buckled and briefly went to one knee before he stood up again. Somebody shot me, he said on the video. Somebody shot me in the back. . . . I think somebody shot me with a pellet gun. In an interview, Hawkins said he heard three or four more pops and was worried that others might be struck. Theyre shooting, he shouted.
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Right after getting cleared by the hospital, Hawkins returned to Barry Farm, where co-workers were giving out the last of the gifts. He said residents poured from their homes to hug him and wish him well. They all asked me the same question: Santa, are you coming back next year? I told them, Sure I am, God willing.