Man shot to death in front of Hawthorne residence; investigation underway

HAWTHORNE, Calif. (KABC) -- An investigation is underway after a man was shot to death following an argument in a Hawthorne residence early.

According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, the victim and a woman went to visit a man at an apartment complex on Prairie Avenue.

Investigators said the woman and the resident got into an argument, and he grabbed an assault rifle and began firing at the couple.

The female was not hit, but her male companion was struck. The victim made his way out of the apartment complex and collapsed on Prairie Avenue.

Hawthorne police arrived on scene around 1:45 a.m. and tried to revive the man using CPR, but it was too late. He was pronounced dead at the scene. He was described as a Pacific Islander male.

Sheriff's officials said the suspect, described as a black male, was arrested, and a weapon was recovered from the scene.

Investigators do not believe the woman and the victim were armed. The cause of the initial argument was not immediately known.

A stretch of Prairie Avenue was closed for investigation.