A man was shot dead at a burger joint in Palmdale in what witnesses said was a possible fight over a bike just before closing time Tuesday night.

The shooting occurred outside Sky Burgers in the 1800 block of East Palmdale Boulevard at 10 p.m. Tuesday, a Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department spokesman said.

A burger stand employee, who did not want to be identified, said they saw a gunman and the victim fighting over a bicycle before shots were fired.

"I just ran out," said Donna Medina, a Sky Burgers employee. "It happened so fast. I just saw myself next to him on my knees and I just said a prayer and I started crying."

The victim's girlfriend was with him at the time, and according to her sister he had gone outside to stop two males from stealing his bicycle.

The 41-year-old victim died at a hospital.

Police were searching for the gunman.