Talk about being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Bernie Diamond certainly can. Well depending on how his surgery went yesterday. Late night on March 25, Diamond, 29, was at an acquaintance’s house for an after party of sorts. While out on the porch smoking a cigarette, he and a friend were shot by people who had a beef with the apparent owners of the residence on Vanderbilt in the lower Greenville area. Diamond took a bullet in the wrist that ripped through his palm. According to good friend Tiffany Wilbrett, she had been told the bullet was a hollow point that shatters the bone more than simply piercing through. Want to see? Go to
Diamond’s myspace page where way too freaky pictures are posted of the torn up hand and forearm. Wilbrett said that the two gunmen are still at large and details at this time merely include the description of the car as a dark blue or black Chrysler 300C with rims.
Dave Sorrentino, 28, the other shooting victim, was shot in the abdomen. The bullet fractured his hip, cracked most of his pelvis and burst the lowest nerve in his back. Since then, he’s remained at Baylor hospital. His hip has been reconstructed and is awaiting a three week rehab stint to begin working on moving his right leg again. With all that, Sorrentino somehow offers a few chuckles and sums it up with “I’m just happy to be alive.”
Diamond underwent surgery Wednesday at Parkland where they cleaned the wounds, preserved the tissue and skin to prepare for amputation of some of his fingers later in the week. Diamond is an independent hairstylist and his friend, Juice, also a hairstylist says “this is a career changing injury. He’s not going to have that anymore.” According to the website, Diamond didn’t have insurance. So to begin work on covering the upcoming medical expenses and rehabilitation, friends and family have rallied to put on a benefit this Friday, April 6 at the Clear Ultra Lounge along with a PayPal account for additional donations outside the event. All details can be found on the myspace page.
Wilbrett remains optimistic. When asked if Diamond could continue as a hairstylist, she said, “With Bernie’s spirit, I think he can do anything he wants.”
