Church murder suspect arrested in Calif.

Church murder suspect arrested in Calif.

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By KATU.com Web Staff

PORTLAND, Ore. - Federal authorities have arrested a suspect wanted in connection with last month's fatal shooting at a funeral in north Portland.

Deputy U.S. Marshals arrested 30-year-old Latwan Brown about 2 p.m. Monday at his mother's home in Hayward, Calif., according to the U.S. Marshals Service.

Brown is charged with murder in the death of 31-year-old Darshawn Cross, who was shot Dec. 12 at the New Hope Missionary Baptist Church during a funeral for 51-year-old Sharon Lynn Kemp. Family members said Cross is the woman's nephew.

Witnesses said gunfire erupted following a fist fight at the back of the church. Police have not said what started the fight.

About 50 people were at the funeral service at the time, but no one else was injured. Cross died at an area hospital three days after the shooting.

The Marshals Service did not say how they specifically tracked Brown to his mother's home. Investigators had been looking for him for several weeks.

Investigators believe the church shooting has spawned a spree of violence, including at least four more related shootings.

For example, police believe Brown's step-brother, 18-year-old Willy Butler Jr. of Portland, was fatally shot in Gresham on New Year's Eve in retaliation for Cross' murder.

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