A 19-year-old may have shot and killed a man to protect his mother, a police spokesperson tells 11 News.

The shooting, which happened early Thursday morning at a townhouse in southeast Colorado Springs, remains under investigation, but Lt. Howard Black said they are looking at it as a possible case of self-defense.

The victim was staying with his ex-wife when the two started fighting.

"The ex-husband and the wife became involved in a verbal argument that turned into a physical fight. The 19-year-old came into the room protecting his mother," Black told 11 News.

Police were then called to the home.

"Just a little after 3 a.m., the Colorado Springs Police Department received a telephone call of a shooting in the 2300 block of Lexington Village. Upon arrival, [officers] found one male with what appeared to be a gunshot wound. He was transported to a local hospital where he died from his injuries," Black told 11 News.

It's not clear if the victim was the teen's father or a former stepfather.

Black stressed that the investigation was still in the very early stages, and it was hard to say whether the teen would face any charges.

"We'll work through the physical evidence at the scene, continuing to interview neighbors, family members to see what the next steps would be. ... You do have the right to defend, to protect yourself or another person, so obviously we'll be looking at the self-defense issues."