The last week has been the most traumatic several days I have ever experienced, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Not just for me, but for my family as well. Fortunately, we are a strong family, and we are sticking together as a family.
On Thanksgiving Day, I visited the Hawkins’ home, the family home of my girlfriend, Ally Hawkins. As I was leaving, I was brutally attacked by Travis Hawkins Jr., Ally’s brother. I believe that he intended to kill me. I was defenseless against him.
This was not the first time Travis Hawkins Jr. attacked me and sent me to the hospital.
Travis Hawkins Jr. has been charged with Assault Second Degree by the District Attorney’s office. Although, I appreciate all the efforts of the hospital and EMS staff, police, all the investigators, and District Attorney Ashley Rich, neither I nor my family agree that Assault Second Degree is the right charge. We are very hopeful and optimistic that as Ms. Rich, her office and the police continue to investigate this crime, that the charges will be upgraded to attempted Murder. I was unconscious when the beating ended. I do not know what stopped him. I do know he has threatened to kill me before, he has attacked me with a metal pipe before, and on Thanksgiving Day he launched an unprovoked attack on me that left me unconscious, hospitalized, suffering horrific head trauma, severe injuries and in need of surgery and additional treatment.
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Since the attack, Travis Hawkins Jr. has been seen following my family and appearing at locations where they have gathered. He has threatened to finish me off. I believe as long as he is free on bond that my life continues to be in danger. Even beyond the physical harm, I am quite traumatized. I am afraid and I feel that I have been victimized repeatedly by the Hawkins family.
The interview at the Hawkins home was not requested by me, nor was I aware that the media would be at the Hawkins home. I was brought back to the home by Ally Hawkins. I wanted to be in my own apartment. Mr. Hawkins Sr. insisted we give the interview and statements were made. I believe Mr. Hawkins Sr. is very manipulative, I believe he organized the family and orchestrated the media represenation to portray himself in a better light. I do not feel safe there. I was very uneasy and nervous while I was there. I was still very disoriented, weak, and intimidated. Mr. Hawkins Sr. has also threatened me with harm based on my relationship with his daughter. Travis Hawkins Sr. threatened me with a metal pipe while I was waiting in the car on a prior occasion. Travis Hawkins Jr. used a metal pipe to assault me on a prior occasion. He and his son pose a very real threat. I will not go back there.
It will be a very long time before I feel safe again. This sort of attack, whether it is proven to be a hate crime or a crime derived from one man’s hate of another human being, should not happen to anyone in this country. No one should have to endure an attack the way that I did. Neither should a mother have to see her daughter in the state that my mom had to see me.
During this investigation, many statements were made to the media, some were premature and misguided. All of us involved have been at the center of a huge media storm. At this time, we want to let the investigation continue and we need to heal. Ally Hawkins has continued to release statements and make arbitrary facebook posts and she has even offered a motive for her brother’s actions. Please know that Ally Hawkins is NOT SPEAKING for me, she is NOT representing me in the media in any way. Her statements and public posts on Facebook or any other form of social media are NOT representative of my opinions, beliefs or words.
I am fortunate that my family’s love for me is unconditional. I fell in love with a girl. My family loves, accepts and supports me. They have shown nothing but love and acceptance throughout my attack, my time in the hospital, and the investigation of this brutal attack, they have been there for me, loving me and supporting me. I want to thank and publicly show my appreciation for my mom, my brother and sister, my Uncle Ricky, Linda, my grandma. Besides the countless individuals who have offered their support financially and in words of kindness, I also want to thank organizations like Equality Alabama and GLAAD for offering their direct support to me and my family, as well as working to create a culture in Alabama where people aren’t attacked for being who they are and loving who they love. Thank you to all those who have prayed, supported and advocated for myself and my family. For those of you who pray, we ask you to continue to pray for us as we heal.
Owens’ hospital bills have begun to mount up. If you want to make a donation to help offset the costs of this brutal attack, a fund has been established at Regions Bank.
2eo
It was obvious it was a hate attack, and judging by what is happening it looks like her girlfriend was in on the set up. She is certainly complicit and guilty by her willingness to lie to protect a violent thug.
The fact such a brutal beating has only incurred a punitive charge is proof of the bias against our community by law agencies.
Travis has earned the ire of some very cutthroat people, he needs to watch himself, these people have and will murder.
Captain proton
The donation link is messed up
Mr. Enemabag Jones
Are there no guns in Alabama? A person would only have to threaten me with a metal pipe once, and I’d make sure his wife had to buy a black dress the next day.
Captain proton
@Mr. Enemabag Jones: The problem with your insight is that then the brother may have had a gun instead of a metal pipe, and the first encounter with him would also have been the last.
Mr. Enemabag Jones
@Captain proton:
That’s why you shoot first.
This entire scenario is bizarre, and clearly that entire Hawkins clan is off the rails. Why Mallory stayed with the girlfriend, I have no idea. But it’s apparent she was complicit in the beating Owens received.
And the fact that the DA is taking the girlfriends statements as fact, and ignoring Ownes demonstrates that the DA–a woman–isn’t the least bit interested in pursuing a hate crime. Add to that the Hawkins family are stalking, and threatening the Owens family means someone needs to buy a gun, learn how to use, and then do so. Because if the son beat Mallory twice, he won’t stop until she’s dead.
Cuchulain
I am so horrified that this assault has happened to this woman. I had been beaten by my brother, who is a wife beater, for coming to his wife’s aide. I was hospitalized and the State of New York picked up the hospital tab because I was a victim of a violent crime and prosecuted my brother who had beat me my whole childhood…and it felt wonderful…he received 3.5 years. I am appalled that your state requires you pay medical bills! I was so traumatized I didn’t leave my home for 3 months and public transportation gave me panic attacks for about a year. I feel you pain and my heart breaks for you and your family. I promise you that you will heal and life will be wonderful again. DO WHAT YOU LOVE…RFEMIND YOURSEFLFF WHAT YOU TREASURE ABOUT LIFE ITSELF…DISTRACT YOURSELF WITH COMEDFY…JUST TIPS I LEARNEFD FROM MY ORDEAL THAT MAY HELP YOU DEAR.