Ricky Donale Mitchell Jr., 18

Ricky Donale Mitchell Jr., an 18-year-old black man, died Sunday, May 22, after he was shot in the 38000 block of 50th Street East in Palmdale, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records. 

Mitchell was at a party with other young people on May 21, said Los Angeles County Sheriff's Lt. Joe Mendoza. 

"Most of them were right out of high school," Mendoza said. "There were invited guests and uninvited guests at the house, and our victim was an uninvited guest."

Witnesses told investigators that Mitchell allegedly got into an argument with another partygoer and pulled out a handgun, Mendoza said. 

A man who was not involved in the argument allegedly pulled out a gun and shot Mitchell, "to stop him from shooting," said Mendoza.

Mitchell was taken to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead on May 22 at 12:18 a.m., according to coroner's records. 

The shooter allegedly left the scene but came forward later to talk to investigators, saying he acted in self defense, Mendoza said. 

"He wasn't available to us until days later," Mendoza said. "Our investigators interviewed him and tried to corroborate his statements with the other witness statements. Now the district attorney has to make the determination about whether to charge him with murder."

Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriff's Department Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. Those wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477. 

Contact the Homicide Report. Follow @latimeshomicide on Twitter.