Unexpected turn.

The case of an attempted robbery of a Las Vegas, Nevada, man held more than one surprise.

On October 3, an 82-year-old man named L.G. Von Zehner was washing his car at a car wash at about 10 p.m. when he was approached by an armed man who demanded his wallet. Von Zehner gave the robber his wallet, but then told him that he wasn't carrying any money. The robber got into the back of Von Zehner's vehicle and demanded to be driven to Von Zehner's house to get some cash. To the robber's surprise, Von Zehner grabbed a gun that was concealed in the car and fired at him, striking him. The robber fired back, hitting Von Zehner in the chest.

While Von Zehner staggered to the street to summon help, the 20-year-old robber, Demetrius Bolden, died of his wounds. Also during this time, a third man, 19-year-old Michael Lewis, who was Bolden's cousin, tried to sanitize the crime scene by taking Bolden's gun and throwing it on a nearby roof. Lewis was caught, and because his actions made him an accomplice, he was charged with robbery, kidnapping, and murder.

Bolden's stepfather, Charlie Scott, made a statement reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal. "On behalf of my wife and me," he said, "we are truly sorry that my son tried to rob and/or kill the gentleman that was involved in this situation." He went on to say that his son was a talented, churchgoing, hardworking young man who knew right from wrong. Bolden, he added, was training as an electrician's apprentice. Scott believes that his son was talked into doing the crime by bad people.

Von Zehner was listed in serious condition in a local hospital. Because he was not carrying the weapon that he used to defend himself on his person, Von Zehner was not violating local laws and will not be charged with a crime.