A 28-year-old suspected gang member pleaded not guilty Tuesday to a murder charge stemming from the shooting death of 23-year-old Venice youth pastor Oscar Duncan.
Kevin Dwayne Green, also known as "Baby Skull," entered his plea before Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Keith L. Schwartz at the LAX Airport Courthouse. Green was charged with one count of murder with gun use and street gang allegations, said Deputy District Attorney Teresa Magno of the Hardcore Gang Division.
Green entered his not guilty plea via alternate public defender Aronda Hurst. Green was secluded from the courtroom due to the presence of a television news camera and yelled out his answers from a side-room where he was being detained.
Green was by officers with the Los Angeles Police Department's robbery-homicide division.
The Los Angeles Police Department also has arrested 22-year-old Hopeton Bereford Parsley in connection with the fatal shooting. Prosecutors have not yet filed charges against Parsley.
"An investigation is ongoing into the second suspect," said Jane Robison, a spokeswoman for the district attorney's office.
Duncan was gunned down June 4 about 10:30 p.m. in the 600 block of Santa Clara Avenue.
Prosecutors said that Green was among a group of men who allegedly drove up to Duncan and his girlfriend, who were standing on the street. They jeered at Duncan's girlfriend and shouted a gang name as one of them fired a single shot, striking 23-year-old Duncan in the head, according to the district attorney's office.
Green was also charged with a separate count of second degree robbery in connection with an incident that occurred May 21, and with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Prosecutors asked that Green's bail be set at $2 million and Schwartz agreed to the amount.
Schwartz set a July 3 court date for a preliminary hearing setting.
If convicted, Green faces a minimum of 50 years to life in prison.
Duncan, a 2006 graduate of Venice High School, was a former "Youth of the Year" with the Boys & Girls Club of Venice and was a homecoming king and captain of the football team in high school. He worked as a mentor at the Venice Boys & Girls Club and helped steer youths away from gangs and also was an instructor in the club's audio engineering program.
Duncan also was a youth pastor at a Compton church and helped oversee 1,500 youths. He also was known for his dancing and singing talents.
(Editor's Note: Updated at 4 p.m. to add the suspect's plea and other details.)
