Oakland church leader fatally shot in South Berkeley

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BERKELEY (BCN) - A man shot in South Berkeley on Tuesday night has died from his injuries and police arrested a suspect in his death this morning, Berkeley police said.

Police responded at 8:32 p.m. to multiple 911 calls reporting gunshots near the intersection of Russell and California streets. Officers found Stockton resident Christian Sheppard, 24, suffering gunshot wounds there.

Sheppard was taken to a hospital but died a short time later.

His pastor at a Baptist church in Oakland says Sheppard was a deacon.

The pastor still remembers Sheppard first expressing interest in becoming a deacon when he was just a teenager.

KTVU is told Sheppard left behind a wife and two young daughters.

Investigators scoured the shooting scene for clues and early Wednesday morning arrested a suspect in the crime about a block away in the 1600 block of Julia Street, police said.

The suspect was identified as 24-year-old Anthony Durant of Berkeley. Investigators believe Sheppard and Durant knew each other but have not released any information about a possible motive.

Police are continuing to investigate the shooting. Anyone with information about the case has been asked to contact Berkeley police homicide investigators at (510) 981-5741 or Bay Area Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS.