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2 held in slaying of popular Venice youth pastor

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Two men were in custody Monday in connection with the killing of a popular Venice youth pastor, Los Angeles police said.

Kevin Dwayne Green, 28, and Hopeton Bereford Parsley, 22, were named as suspects in the slaying of Oscar Duncan, according to LAPD Officer Wendy Reyes andLos Angeles County Sheriff’s Department inmate records.

Green was arrested Friday, according to the records, was booked the next day and is being held without bail. Parsley was arrested and booked Saturday and is being held on $1-million bail, according to the records.

The LAPD did not immediately release the circumstances involving the arrests or say if others are being sought.

Police believe that about four males drove up in a white car last week and jeered at Duncan’s girlfriend as the two were standing on a Venice street. Authorities say the assailants shouted a gang name as one of them fired a single shot, striking Duncan in the head.

Duncan, 23, was homecoming king and football captain at Venice High School and a youth minister at his Compton church. Police had said they believe the act was random. Duncan was not in a gang and had no criminal record, authorities said.

Inmate records show that Parsley was arrested in January by Culver City police and released from jail in April. Culver City Police Lt. Ron Iizuka said Parsley was charged with one count each of domestic violence, assault and making criminal threats. Green appeared to have no previous arrests.

matt.stevens@latimes.com

andrew.blankstein@latimes.com

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