Gang Member Gets 90 Years for Killing Venice Minister and 'Youth of the Year'

One of two gang members convicted in the June 2012 shooting death of a Compton youth minister in Venice was sentenced today to 90 years to life in state prison.

Hopeton Parsley, 25, and co-defendant Kevin Dwayne Green, 31, were found guilty Feb. 20 of first-degree murder for the June 4, 2012, killing of Oscar Duncan.

Jurors also found true gang and gun allegations against both men, but were not asked to determine which of the two was the gunman.

Duncan was returning from dinner with his fiance when someone in a car cat-called the woman, according to Deputy District Attorney Eugene Hanrahan.

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Duncan was shot once in the face after approaching the car, from which someone shouted the name of a gang, Hanrahan said.

The youth minister was not a gang member and had been actively involved in gang-intervention efforts, authorities said.

Duncan, a 2006 graduate of Venice High School, was named the 2006 “Youth of the Year” by the Boys & Girls Club of Venice. He later worked for the club as a mentor who helped steer youths away from gangs and as an instructor in the club’s audio engineering program.

Duncan also was a youth pastor at Greater Zion Family Church in Compton and oversaw 1,500 youths. Duncan was a captain of the Venice High School football team, homecoming king and known for his singing and dancing talents.

Green is set to be sentenced June 5 and is facing 50 years to life in state prison.

A third defendant, Nichole Sheran, 20, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and is expected to be sentenced June 24 to 11 years in state prison, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

City News Service

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