The Clark County District Attorney will decide if a man will face charges in a late-night shooting death at an apartment complex near the Meadows Mall. Police said it appears the man was trying to protect a woman who was being beaten by her boyfriend.

Metro Police detectives said the shooter was not arrested and was cooperating with investigators.

Police were called to the apartment on Mission Laguna Lane around 10 p.m. Thursday night by a security guard who reported the shooting.

Investigators believe the dead man had been abusing his girlfriend for hours before the shooting. They said the victim had obvious signs of abuse and was bleeding from her face. They also believe the man had kicked down a door inside the couple’s apartment earlier Thursday.

Before the shooting, police believe the woman ran from her apartment and found a neighbor she knew in the parking lot. The woman’s long-time boyfriend apparently chased her and got into an argument with the neighbor.

“There was a verbal argument and there was some yelling,” said Metro homicide investigator, Lt. Dan McGrath. “What I was told by the security guard was he told him to back up. He told him to get back or he would get shot.”

Police said that during that confrontation, the neighbor fired one shot, hitting and killing the boyfriend.

Investigators did not immediately release the names of anyone involved. They said the deceased is an African-American man in his 50’s. Police said he had a history of domestic violence involving his girlfriend.

Detectives said this could have been prevented.

“If you hear your neighbors yelling and screaming and fighting, please call the police,” said McGrath. “That’s our job. We’ll come out… You may end up saving somebody from getting seriously injured or killed.”