A 56-year old apparent drug dealer is dead and her friend barely escaped with her life after throwing boiling water at their attacker, who is now in police custody.
Police arrested 25-year-old Lewis Norbert Wednesday for the Tuesday murder of 56-year-old Patricia Corbin, a resident of the Montecito Palms apartments in Lake Highlands (Skillman at Royal).
The suspect was purchasing drugs from the victim, says Deputy Chief Rob Sherwin of the Crimes Against Persons division of the Dallas Police Department.
A friend of the victim and witness to the crime narrowly escaped, living to later identify the alleged killer. The witness reportedly was cooking in the kitchen as the situation unfolded.
Based on said witness’ testimony, Norbert was trying to acquire drugs from Corbin. Police did not verify the type of drug, but say they found cocaine and marijuana on the premises. He didn’t have enough money and wanted the victim to extend credit. When she refused, she and the suspect began arguing, and he eventually pulled a gun and shot her in the head.
He turned the weapon on the witness but she threw a pot of boiling water from the stove at him. He fled. Police acted quickly on the witness’ report and her good description of the perp (he stood out due to his long hair, Sherwin says). Officers spotted the distinctly dreadlocked Norbert running down Skillman and arrested him.
Police held the witness, and she positively identified Norbert, who is being held for murder and aggravated assault with two $250,000 bonds.
Rescuers transported Corbin to Presbyterian Hospital where she was pronounced dead.