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KVUE's Jessica Vess reports

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A family pleaded for answers Thursday after their loved one was brutally attacked outside a downtown Austin bar.

"It's so sickening. It's heartbreaking, and right now we're numb," said Marissa Evans, the victim’s mother.

Evans posted flyers pleading for information along windows near the Coyote Ugly bar on 6th Street. It's where police found her son, Nikolas Evans, 21, on the street around 2:30 a.m. last Friday.

"It's not looking really, not looking really good right now. We're all just kind of numb," said Evans.

Doctors performed a three-hour emergency brain surgery on Evans. He is still in a coma in critical condition. His family admits his chance of surviving is slim, but they are holding onto faith that the goofy, smiling Nikolas they love will soon wake up.

"He's sweet and amazing and wonderful. I have so much faith he's going to pull through but... not here. We're going to move him away from Austin," said Evans.

Police believe Evans and a friend were walking down 6th Street after the bars closed Friday morning when a man, who was with a group of four or five men, attacked, knocking Evans to the ground unconscious.

"I want to find the people who did this," said his mother. "Any little bit of information will help so that we can catch this person, so that it doesn't happen to someone else, and he needs to be caught for what he did to my son and if you could see him, you'd know why."

His family hoped one of the three surveillance cameras outside the bar would hold answers. However, the cameras at Coyote Ugly didn't capture any of the assault. The next closest one is a full block away outside the Texas Lottery Commission.

Police hope to install a set of monitoring cameras across the entertainment district by next year.

"We are looking forward to getting that technology as soon as possible," said Commander Chris Noble, APD.

"Given the times, I think there's an increased danger," said Brendan Starr, who often visits downtown Austin at night.

Last month, police say four men randomly attacked a man in the entertainment district leaving him with two black eyes.

"I want to see the town get safe. I love Austin," said Kevin Koym, victim.

In February, a group of men brutally attacked a couple just blocks away at 4th and Colorado.

Police say they have increased patrol in the area, but it wasn't enough to protect Nikolas Evans last week.

"I had no idea. I thought it was a really... I thought it was a safe place to go," said his mother.

According to APD, aggravated assaults in downtown Austin are up 20 percent from this time last year. It’s a slight improvement over last month which was nearly 28 percent higher than 2008.

Police describe Evans' attacker as a black male, 5’9” tall, weighing about 150 pounds. The man was wearing a long sleeve dark blue button down shirt and a light colored tie.

Anyone with information is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 472-TIPS.