2 New Suspects Held in Killing of Church Elder

Police Tuesday arrested two more suspects in the slaying of a Tustin church elder and identified both as street gang members.

They and another alleged gang member arrested Sunday are suspects in the shooting of David Eugene Thompson during a robbery at a South-Central Los Angeles telephone booth last week. The murder was witnessed by Thompson’s wife, Namora.

Shortly after 7 a.m. Tuesday, detectives arrested Tracy Carter, 18, without incident at his South-Central Los Angeles home, police said.

The detectives then went to the home of Todd Lavera, 22, left business cards with Lavera’s mother, and at about noon Lavera and his mother walked into the Newton station and surrendered, police said.

“There was no resistance in either of these arrests,” Police Lt. Charles Massey said. “Everything was very smooth.”

A 16-year-old boy was arrested Sunday and is facing arraignment in Juvenile Court. The two men arrested Tuesday are being held at Parker Center in downtown Los Angeles, and police said they expect to seek complaints against them today.

Massey said all three suspects are members of the Hoover Crips street gang, one of several violent gangs operating in the South-Central area.

Thompson, 27, who was attempting to telephone for help for a disabled church bus, was robbed of $30 and shot in the head at Slauson Avenue and Broadway near the Los Angeles Coliseum just before midnight last Thursday.

Namora Thompson, 38, told police that three armed young men accosted them, took $10 from her purse, pushed her out of the Thompsons’ 1986 Hyundai automobile and sped away in it. The car was recovered later in another part of the city.

Thompson worked as a mail carrier in Santa Ana and was an elder at Greater Zion Apostolic Church there. He was described by friends and church members as a spiritual leader and a kind, gentle man, who was respected by other members of the congregation.

Thompson was the father of two sons, David, 3, and Michael, 2.

His wife said he was praying during the seconds before he was shot to death. Police found him crumpled on the floor of the gasoline station telephone booth.

Police said the investigation into Thompson’s death is continuing but declined to say whether other suspects are being sought in the shooting.