A suspect is in custody in connection to the shooting death of 69-year-old Bishop David O’Connell of the Los Angeles Archdiocese. During a press conference on Monday, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna announced the arrest of 65-year-old Carlos Medina, who was arrested at his home in Torrance early on Monday morning. Bishop O’Connell was found dead in his home in the Hacienda Heights community in Los Angeles County, Calif., shortly before 1 p.m. on Saturday; he had served the Los Angeles Archdiocese since 1979.
Sheriff Luna identified Medina as the husband of a housekeeper who worked for O’Connell, and said the department received a tip that Medina made comments about O’Connell owing him money. Video surveillance showed a dark-colored SUV matching one driven by the housekeeper pull into O’Connell’s driveway and staying for a few minutes before leaving on Saturday. After deputies arrived at O’Connell’s home responding to a medical emergency, they discovered the bishop dead from a gunshot wound to the upper torso. The shooting is being investigated as a homicide.
O’Connell was an immigrant born in County Cork, Ireland, and studied at the All Hallows College in Dublin before moving to Los Angeles in 1979. Archbishop José H. Gomez said in a statement: “I am very sad this afternoon to report that our beloved Auxiliary Bishop David O’Connell has passed away unexpectedly. It is a shock, and I have no words to express my sadness.” Gomez said O’Connell was a “peacemaker” who was particularly passionate about helping the poor and immigrants.
Chairperson of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, Janice Hahn, recalled O’Connell as a longtime friend. Hahn tweeted: “I was very sad to learn of the passing of Bishop O’Connell. He was a longtime friend. I was fortunate to work with him during my time on the city council and again as supervisor. I join with Archbishop Gomez and the people of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles in mourning his loss.”
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