Vendor shot dead at Dallas' "First Saturday" West End Computer Sale
Prosec...@gallows.usa
09:57 AM CDT on Sunday, July 5, 2009
By JON NIELSEN / The Dallas Morning News
jnie...@dallasnews.com
In the moments before he was shot early Saturday, Herbert Orsburn
chatted about family with fellow vendors gathered under the Woodall
Rodgers Freeway bridge.
The bimonthly sidewalk sale in Dallas' West End where computer
enthusiasts sell their wares attracts hundreds and typically runs all
night without incident.
Herbert Orsburn
But the sale was interrupted about 2:30 a.m. when someone sprayed
bullets into the crowded market, seemingly at random, killing Orsburn,
51, of Lewisville.
Amid the chaos, Charlie Gallegos said most of the crowd of about 50
vendors and shoppers instinctively hit the pavement. "When I raised my
head up, he was already on the ground," said Gallegos, who was selling
two spaces down. "When they took him away, I was hoping for a miracle,
but I already knew."
Paramedics took Orsburn to Parkland Memorial Hospital, where he later
died.
Kathryn Orsburn said her husband found new friends and a way to make
extra money selling computer parts under the downtown Dallas bridge.
"He spent all of his time going through thrift stores and garage sales
gathering up stuff for First and Third Saturday," she said.
Police have few leads. The best description of the vehicle came from
witnesses who caught a brief glimpse of a dark-colored automobile with
stripes along the bottom of the doors heading north in the 1600 block
of Field Street.
Detectives believe the shooting was a random act. The victim was about
100 yards away from where the shots were fired, and there were no
previous altercations reported at the sale, police said.
Anyone with information can call Dallas police at 214-671-3661.
"He's a husband. He's a father," police Sgt. Warren Mitchell said.
"We're urging anybody with information of this useless crime to call."
Police were investigating whether the fatal bullet could have
ricocheted off the bottom of the bridge.
Peyton Weaver, one of the event organizers, stood near Space 306 where
a single yellow flower marked the spot where Orsburn was hit. He
studied the underside of the bridge looking for any signs of a
ricochet.
"It's just insane for someone to do something like that," Weaver said,
shaking his head.
Weaver said Orsburn was an affable vendor who had set up shop every
month for the last 11 years.
Orsburn sold lamps, computer equipment and just about anything he
could refurbish.
"He'd monkey around with it and sell it down here to make some money
on it," Weaver said.
Darryl Burrows, another vendor, said the shooting may not have been
intentional. Whether it was celebratory fire on Independence Day or
someone wanting attention, he said, the act was senseless.
Monika Diaz of WFAA-TV (Channel 8) contributed to this report.