Daily BrewComa victim’s cousin asks Torontonians to do good deeds as alleged attacker Fabio De Melo arrested
In the wee hours of June 28th, 22-year-old Daniel MacLeod was attacked on Dundas Street West in Toronto. He was walking alone, heading out from the Dakota Tavern, when a man and woman approached him. An altercation followed in which MacLeod was struck on the back of the head with a weapon, landing MacLeod in the hospital.
He remains in a coma in the intensive care unit at Toronto Western Hospital. Doctors say that if he survives — "His situation is really touch and go," MacLeod's cousin, Sonny Day, told CBC News — he will likely suffer from permanent brain damage, the Toronto Star reports.
Fabio De Melo, 27, has been charged with aggravated assault. Day said MacLeod's family is just "relieved that at least the justice process is starting."
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Day started a website, JusticeForDan.ca, in honour of his cousin. With over 20,000 people having already visited Day's site looking for opportunities to help MacLeod, Day is challenging Torontonians to counteract the violence with goodness:
"If you want to do something for Dan then just do a good deed; give that homeless person you'd normally walk past some money, call up a relative you haven't spoken to in a long time and catch up, volunteer some of your time to a worthy cause, surprise a loved one by preparing a meal for them, do that thing you've always been dreaming about (do it!). The best way to honour Dan and counteract the negativity his assailant has created is just to do something positive today that you wouldn't otherwise have done."
Despite MacLeod's tragic story, Day still believes "Toronto is a good city, and that the vast majority of people in this city, or anywhere else, are good people who care about others."
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