Sheriffs guard the entrance to the home of Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles David O’Connell in Hacienda Heights, Calif., on Sunday. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said it had arrested O’Connell’s butler’s husband on suspicion of his death.
Damian Dovarganes/AP
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Damian Dovarganes/AP
The sheriff secures the entrance to the home of Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles David O’Connell in Hacienda Heights, Calif., on Sunday. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said it had arrested O’Connell’s butler’s husband on suspicion of his death.
Damian Dovarganes/AP
Police have arrested a suspect in the murder of a Catholic bishop, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department announced Monday.
Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles David O’Connell, 69, was found dead of a gunshot wound Saturday at his home in Hacienda Heights, Calif. A deacon came to check on him body discovery, according to member station NPR LAist.
Sheriff Robert Luna identified the suspect as Carlos Medina, 65, the husband of the housekeeper O’Connell. Medina has also done some work around O’Connell’s house.
Authorities are investigating allegations that the suspect made comments about O’Connell owed money to him, Luna said.
Police arrested the suspect at his home around 8:15 a.m. local time Monday after he entrenched inside the home for several hours. The sheriff said authorities recovered “guns and other evidence that could link Medina to the crime.” The suspect’s wife is cooperating with the investigation.
O’Connell was ordained in Los Angeles in 1979, diocesan news website News Angelus reported. Pope Francis appoints him as auxiliary bishop in 2015.
“Among the many things that I admire in his life and ministry, is that he is fluent in Spanish – with an Irish accent,” said Los Angeles Archbishop José H. Gomez of O’Connell, who born in County Cork, Ireland – at Monday’s Press Conference.
“Every day he works to show compassion to the poor, the homeless, immigrants and all those even on the margins of society.”
“We are so sad to lose him,” Gomez added, holding back tears.
Many O’Connell parishioners across parishes in the Los Angeles area according to Angelus News. During his four decades as a priest and bishop, he worked to stop violence and take care of immigrants.
“I’ve been a part of people’s lives, and been there in the suffering of young people who’ve lost their lives so many times, but I haven’t had a problem,” O’Connell said. Newsletter 2015. “I believe it’s really important for us to be out in the neighborhoods, to be out with people.”
He say it is “the great joy of my life to be the pastor of these people, especially those who are suffering, in need, or in need.”
Government and church officials have Express condolences and share memories.
State Senator Bob Archuleta speaks at the press conference O’Connell “has the ability to walk the streets everywhere he goes,” bringing together people from all walks of life – from gang members to clergy members.
Parishioners and priests gathered outside O’Connell’s home – where he died – over the weekend to pray and mourn.
Bishop Fintan Gavin of the Diocese of Cork and Ross in Ireland said in a statement that O’Connell “always maintained his relationship with family and friends in Cork” through frequent visits to Ireland.
The bishop said his death has “shocked” the diocese.
