Ricky Donale Mitchell Jr., an 18-year-old from Palmdale, was shot and killed after an altercation at a birthday party on May 21, 2016, in the 38000 block of 50th Street East. A different partygoer, not involved in that initial dispute, then drew a firearm and shot Mitchell three times in the torso. Mitchell was taken to a nearby hospital and pronounced dead shortly after midnight on May 22, 2016.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department investigated, interviewing witnesses and speaking with the shooter, who initially fled the scene but later came forward and said he acted in self-defense to prevent Mitchell from using his weapon. The case was referred to the district attorney’s office to decide whether charges were warranted; that decision depended on whether witness statements and other evidence supported the shooter’s self-defense claim.

If anyone at that party or who has information about the events that night can help clarify what happened, please come forward.