Feb. 8, 1978 O'Brien is Victim of Sniper's Bullet

Edward O'Brien, J. Frank Dobie's 17 year old star running back was seriously injured in a shooting incident which occurred Saturday afternoon at about 1:00 p.m. O'Brien underwent surgery Saturday afternoon at Southeast Memorial Hospital for removal of bullet fragments which were lodged near his kidney.

O'Brien is now reported in good condition.

Upon his entry into the hospital, his condition been listed as critical.

Police are questioning a male described as approximately 35 years old, 5'9, 185 pounds, Mexican-American in the shooting.

O'Brien reported that the man was driving a two-tone blue '76 Monte Carlo.

O'Brien had experienced an encounter with the suspect Friday, the day before the shooting. He related the following story. On Friday afternoon, he and three friends from Dobie High School were driving two girls from school to their home in Scarsdale.

While in Scarsdale they encountered two males in the previously described vehicle. The males made obscene gestures and shouted obscenities. O'Brien and the three youths in his car approached the two men near the intersection of Algonquin and Scarsdale Boulevard. 

O'Brien stepped out of the car to ask the males, "Why'd you do that?" It is reported at that time, the suspect hit O'Brien and the two scuffled. 

Houston police were called to the scene by employees of the Scarsdale Dairy Queen but the fight broke up before police arrived. 

Before leaving the scene, the suspect reportedly warned the Dobie youths, "I'll get you!"

On Saturday afternoon O'Brien was driving Sabo Road when we was approached by the suspect. O'Brien reported that the man tried to get him to pull over but O'Brien kept driving. 

O'Brien reported that through the rear view mirror he then saw the suspect raise a high powered rifle. O'Brien accelerated his vehicle trying to escape but the man fired with the bullet going through the trunk of the new Cadillac O'Brien was driving, through the seats, and into O'Brien's body. 

O'Brien managed to get into the parking lot of the Kroger shopping Center at Sabo and Fuqua where he asked a passerby to call police.