Man selling hoverboards shoots would-be robber in Bellflower

BELLFLOWER, Calif. (KABC) -- A man who was ambushed by would-be robbers while trying to sell hoverboards in Bellflower shot at the suspects, wounding one of them.

The victim had arranged to sell two hoverboards to another man in a strip mall parking lot outside a Stater Brothers grocery store in the 17200 block of Lakewood Boulevard.

When they met around 9:30 p.m. Sunday, a second person pistol-whipped the victim in the back of the head. That victim happened to be an armed, off-duty security guard.

Investigators said he pulled his gun and fired at both would-robbers, hitting one.

Deputies arrested the suspect who was shot, identified as 18-year-old Semaj James. The second suspect got away.