Shasta Lake man recovers after he was shot 4 times defending friend during suspected hate crime

17 months after he was shot four times, a man was hailed as a hero.

There is a bald patch on the back of William's head where he was pistol whipped and where he was shot in the shin and groin. After his injuries healed, half of his skull was removed by doctors.

He's doing well, according to Barber. He learned how lucky he was to have so many friends and how special his girlfriend was.

Daisha Barber said that it took a bullet to get him to think about marriage. The couple got married. He was very smart. He's the same person.

Things were not always nice.

According to an investigative report from the Shasta County Sheriff's Office, on April 18, 2021, Barber, his family and an unnamed 41-year-old friend were finishing up a fishing trip at the Salt Creek inlet. Barber's friend who is black was shot in the back by a man who shouted a racial slur.

The witnesses said that Barber stepped in to protect his friends and family.

Daisha Barber said that her husband's hand saved her life. He's a hero, that's what I said.

The friend was treated and released from the hospital.

The man was attacked for his race by the shooter.

Doctors didn't think he would live when he arrived at the medical center. They put him in a coma and told his family to say goodbye.

Doctors thought he would be unable to talk or walk after he survived the night. He improved to the point that he didn't know his name when he was released from the hospital.

He spent 2.5 weeks at the rehabilitation institute learning how to speak, swallow, balance and walk

When he couldn't speak, Daisha Barber took her daughter and the family dog to cheer him up.

Barber said that he felt that kind of love and support. I want to be able to live a normal life. I'm okay with that because I don't know if I will ever be 100% again.

Dr. Adora Matthews said that Barber was an ideal patient. It's rare for a person with a brain injury to recover as much as he did.

He went to the Hard Rock Casino in Wheatland to celebrate. While in the hospital, he taught the nurses how to play three-card poker. He won a few hundred dollars.

His bail is $2 million. He is accused of two counts of attempted murder with enhancements for hate crimes and civil rights violations. Hesselberg, who was 21 at the time of the attack, told detectives he called Barber's friend the n-word and then shot him in the back.

They struggled when Barber tried to help. Barber scratched his eye when he fell down an embankment after being shot by Hesselberg. After shooting Barber in the back of the head, he discarded the gun and fled.

Matthews agreed with statements from witnesses.

He doesn't think that way. I think I'm a person who did the right thing.

Jessica is a reporter for the Record Searchlight. Science, arts, social issues and entertainment are covered by her. You can follow her on social media: You can join Jessica in the get out. There is a Nor Cal Facebook group. Please subscribe to support this work. I would like to thank you.

The article was first published on the Record Searchlight.