Police: Man found shot at gas station tried to rob 74-year-old

DALLAS — Police say a man found at a Northwest Dallas gas station had been shot by the 74-year-old man he tried to rob.

Saeid Ardestani, 56, was found outside the Valero gas station on Webb Chapel Road Wednesday evening and taken to Parkland Memorial Hospital where he died.

Officers checked surveillance video at the gas station and saw Ardestani being dropped off by a man and woman, who called 911 before leaving.

Nearly 30 minutes later a shooting call came from the Spanish Pueblo Apartments on Dale Crest.

A man named Thomas Lopez, 74, said two men came into his apartment and attempted to rob him. He told police that he was armed and feared for his life, so he shot one of the men before the pair escaped. Lopez says he had trouble with his phone, so there was a delay in him calling 911.

Homicide detectives found that the two incidents were related and Ardestani matched the description of the man Lopez shot.

Police believe Lopez feared for his life so he was released. His case will now go before a Grand Jury.