Five-year-old shooting victim who lost eye gets pirate-themed party

WHEN news broke of a five-year-old who lost his eye in a drive-by shooting, a local theatre group decided to come to the rescue.

A party to remember

TRAGEDY struck in January when a five-year-old was hit by a stray bullet from a random shooting.

Donovan Lyles Jr was playing video games at his East Detroit home when a bullet that took out his right eye.

His mother, Emily Brazelton, said the young boy remained calm and optimistic throughout the whole ordeal.

“When I told him his eye was gone, he said he would just have to become a pirate,” she told ABC News.

When news broke of his resilient spirit, a local theatre group, Captain Fishbone and the Pirates of the Forgiven, decided to do something special for the boy.

The group decided to throw a pirate-inspired party in honour of Donovan.

Held at a pirate-themed restaurant in nearby St Clair Shores, Michigan, the group christened the boy as “DJ the Daring”.

“That’s now his official pirate name,” troupe member Carole Cross told ABC News.

After entering the room, Donovan was greeted by a collective of guests decked out in swashbuckling costumes.

The boy’s mother said he was overwhelmed at first, but once he realised the party was for him, he couldn’t stop sword fighting and hugging everyone he met.

Since the incident, the family has moved to a safer neighbourhood and, despite losing her job as a result of having to care for her son, Ms Brazelton remains positive.

“That same night a little girl was shot and she didn’t make it,” she said.

“I feel ridiculously grateful that I didn’t lose my baby.”

A group shot from the party.