By Dawn Wolfe Gutterman
WINDSOR – Sal Vonatti has awakened from his coma.
The Windsor resident, who had been in the coma since being shot in the head during a hate crime last January, spoke with a reporter from the Windsor Star in a report published Sept. 30.
Triangle Foundation Executive Director Jeffrey Montgomery, who spoke with Vonatti's sister on Oct. 2, confirmed the report.
"According to her, he recognizes people and he is able to respond to yes and no questions," Montgomery said. "He's understandably kind of agitated because he doesn't totally understand why he is where he is but these are all things that would be totally expected.
"But the point is, this is a huge breakthrough."
Vonatti was shot in the face while leaving Gigi's Nightclub in Detroit. Steven Williams Jr. of Detroit was sentenced to six to 12 years for the crime in August. According to the Star report, Vonatti has been in the Hamilton Health Sciences Centre rehabilitation ward in Windsor since early July.
