$50,000 Reward Offered in Killing of Venice Youth Pastor

Authorities announced Thursday that a $50,000 reward will be offered to anyone providing information leading to the arrest of those responsible for the shooting death of a 23-year-old Venice man.

Los Angeles City Councilman Bill Rosendahl said he would introduce a motion at Tuesday's council meeting seeking support for the award to find the killer of Oscar Duncan, a 2006 graduate of Venice High School and a former "Youth of the Year" of the Boys & Girls Club of Venice.

Four males in a white, older model car exchanged words with Duncan about 10:30 p.m. Monday in the 600 block of Santa Clara Avenue and a gunman fired one shot that struck Duncan in the head. Duncan was not a gang member, but police believe the suspects may have been gang members.

Capt. Jon Peters of the Los Angeles Police Department's Pacific Division asked for the public's help to help homicide detectives solve the case.

"This was a young gentleman who had so much potential," Peters said during a news conference Thursday. "He was born and raised in this community. He graduated from Venice High School, was a captain of the football team, was a homecoming king. He committed his young life to help people, to mentor young kids to stay away from tragedies we see in the streets."

Duncan was a youth pastor at Greater Zion Church Family in Compton and oversaw 1,500 young people, said Michael Fisher, pastor of the church.

"This young man had two feet completely planted in goodness," said Erikk Aldridge, executive director of the Boys & Girls Club of Venice.

Investigators said they have no reason to believe that Duncan was targeted and he may have been at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Peters noted that LAPD detectives in June 2011 faced a double homicide in Penmar Park and were able to solve the case within six days with the public's help. Homicide charges were filed in that case against Michael Anthony Mariscal for the shooting deaths of Salvador "Junior" Diaz and Alan Mateo, both 18.

Anyone with information about the Duncan slaying was urged to call homicide detectives at (213) 382-9470, or (877) LAPD-247.