Waukesha man charged with killing best friend

Steven P. Osburn
Published on: 8/12/2010

Waukesha - A 24-year-old Waukesha man was charged with first-degree intentional homicide Thursday in the shooting death of his best friend.

Steven P. Osburn faces life in prison if convicted in the Aug. 6 slaying of Zachary S. Gallenberg, 23, of Waukesha.

A bullet struck Gallenberg on his upper left side near his collar bone, according to a criminal complaint filed in Waukesha County Circuit Court.

According to the complaint and Waukesha police, Osburn had called police at 3:34 a.m. Aug. 6 and said that he had been assaulted by his best friend and that if police did not come, he would shoot or kill his roommate.

A woman who witnessed the shooting told police that Gallenberg had hit Osburn in the face twice, the complaint says.

The woman told police that the shooting occurred outside Osburn's residence in the 2000 block of Cliff Alex Court South after Gallenberg had embraced Osburn in a bear hug.

Osburn shoved him off, turned and shot him, the woman told investigators.

The complaint says Osburn told police during questioning, "It bothers me that I shot Zach because he was my best friend, but I was threatened."

The woman told police that Gallenberg and Osburn had been drinking all night at a bar and at the residence.

Sometime before the shooting, Osburn had choked her and Gallenberg had pushed Osburn off her, the complaint says.

According to the complaint, police have had contact with Osburn at the residence in the past and that Osburn, a military veteran, suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder.

In court records filed this week, the woman said Osburn and Gallenberg had been friends for many years but often fought and yelled at each other about military differences as "Osburn was in the Army and Gallenberg in the Marines."