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Letter to the editor

Teen charged in drug slaying

The Sheriff's Office is searching for two others in the shooting.

By ABHI RAGHUNATHAN
Published July 3, 2007

ST. PETERSBURG - Just two years ago, Kevin Yun was ordered to stay away from gang members after being arrested in a gun-related incident.

On Sunday, Yun was arrested again. This time, he was charged with first-degree murder after a drug deal gone bad turned into a fatal shooting, the Sheriff's Office said.

The Sheriff's Office is still searching for two others believed to be responsible in the slaying.

Yun, 17, is a member of the Asian Pride gang, authorities said. He and other gang members have been arrested in connection with other shootings and crimes in the county.

Aaron Slavin, a prosecutor who handles cases of gang members for the Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney's Office, said he plans to charge Yun as an adult. "He is a known and documented gang member, " Slavin said.

The shooting took place early Sunday in the 2700 block of 62nd Avenue N. The Sheriff's Office said Yun went to an apartment to buy or sell drugs. Two other Asian men, who wore masks, entered the apartment and held up 28- year-old Antron Peterson, his wife and two friends.

When Peterson ran, one of the Asian men shot him, the Sheriff's Office said. Yun was not the shooter.

The Sheriff's Office said Yun ran away, and the other two men drove away in a white Toyota Camry. Yun was arrested at his Kenneth City home without incident, the Sheriff's Office said.

Peterson had just been released from the Pinellas County Jail after making bail on Saturday night. He was shot about three hours later.

Times researcher Angie Drobnic Holan contributed to this report. Abhi Raghunathan can be reached at araghunathan@sptimes.com or 727 893-8472.

[Last modified July 3, 2007, 11:30:26]