Police Cite Self-Defense in Shooting of Youth at Party : Violence: The alleged gang member is in critical condition after a gun battle in Pacoima with a state corrections official. Four others were wounded.

A state prison officer apparently acted in self-defense when he shot a 17-year-old alleged gang member in the head at a Pacoima party Saturday night during a gun battle that left four others injured, Los Angeles police said Sunday.

The 17-year-old, who was not identified because he is a juvenile, remained in critical condition Sunday at Northridge Hospital Medical Center. The four other wounded party-goers, two young men and two young women, all hit in the arms or legs, were taken to the same hospital. Hospital officials declined to release their conditions.

The shooting occurred shortly before midnight Saturday after two young men, described by witnesses as local gang members, exchanged heated words outside a party in the 13600 block of Gager Street, police said.

As the argument escalated, one of the two men took out a pistol and fired several shots into the crowd that had gathered. The corrections officer, a relative of the party hosts whose name was not released, then stepped in, also drawing a gun, said Detective Frank Bishop of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Foothill Division.

The young man then pointed the gun at the corrections officer, several shots were exchanged, and the corrections officer shot him in the head, police said. Bishop said the four other injured people also were identified by witnesses as gang members.

Detectives Sunday were questioning witnesses and examining the scene of the shooting to determine exactly what happened.

The corrections officer was released after questioning early Sunday morning, and so far has not been charged with anything, police said.

“He was apparently acting in self-defense,” said police spokesman Arthur Holmes.

The young man with whom the injured teen was arguing was not apprehended, and police have not identified him, Bishop said.

The family hosting the party refused to comment on the shooting, but a neighbor said the corrections officer lives in the neighborhood.