Please enter valid email address to continue. Bishop Robert Barron initially met Bishop OConnell in 2015 when they both ascended to the role. A suspect has been arrested in the murder of prominent Los Angeles Bishop David O'Connell after he was found gunned down in his home over the weekend, authorities said Monday. A Catholic bishop in southern California who was hailed as a "peacemaker" was shot and killed on Saturday blocks away from a church, stunning the Los Angeles religious community. James Queally writes about crime and policing in Southern California, where he currently covers Los Angeles Countys criminal courts and the district attorneys office. Police say Terence Davis was found dead at a gas station covered in shell casings. Detectives. "Although I personally did not know the bishop, I cannot tell you how many phone calls Ive received over the last 48 hours of people who have worked with him in different capacities," Luna said. Parishioners at St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Church in South Los Angeles, where OConnell served for more than a decade, recalled a man with humor, a deep commitment to social justice and dedication to serving Black and Latino communities. David K. Li is a senior breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital. Medinas motive for the murder is currently unknown. In the 1990s, OConnell gained a reputation for seeking to bridge relations between residents of riot-torn neighborhoods and local law enforcement after the police beating of Rodney King. The shooting. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department announced on Sunday that Los Angeles. And the migrant youths have become a metaphor for our whole society.. He said detectives found no evidence of forced entry at the archdiocese-owned home and that Medinas wife was cooperating with detectives. Carlos Medina, 65, was arrested Monday morning after a . The shooting death of Los Angeles Auxiliary Bishop David OConnell known as a peacemaker is being investigated as a homicide, sheriffs officials said Sunday. A suspect has been arrested in the killing of a Catholic bishop who was fatally shot during the weekend in Southern California. Luna says a SWAT team arrested Carlos Medina in the morning at his home in Torrance, about 35 miles (56 kilometers), southwest of Hacienda Heights, where Auxiliary Bishop David OConnell was killed. He was known for his tireless work in helping the poor and underprivileged. Bishop David O'Connell was found in the room of a home with a gunshot wound to the upper torso. Surveillance footage showed a dark-coloured SUV approaching the bishops residence in Hacienda Heights before the murder and leaving shortly after. An investigator walks in front of the house where Bishop David O'Connell was murdered in Hacienda Heights. Janice Hahn, chair of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, said O'Connell was a longtime friend who she first met while on the LA City Council. Theres an epidemic of hurting children, even the ones who have too much. The authorities said the man in custody was the husband of the bishop's housekeeper.. On Monday morning, the Special Enforcement Bureau within the Sheriffs department tweeted that a SWAT operation for an armed, barricaded suspect in Torrance has concluded. The 69-year-old victim was found dead at the scene of the crime on Janlu Avenue in . The tribe provides members with various programs and services and operates a variety of tribal owned entities and enterprises. The Diocese of Cork and Ross in Ireland,where O'Connell was born, was shocked by the priest's death. Gabriela Gil, who first met O'Connell when she was pregnant with her youngest child, was among those who prayed outside O'Connell's home. Glendy Perez said she knew OConnell from antiabortion rallies in the area and described him as a soft-spoken and loving man. Gabriela Gil, who first met O'Connell when she was pregnant with her youngest child, was among those who prayed outside O'Connell's home. The Diocese of Cork and Ross in Ireland, where OConnell was born, was shocked by the priests death. Modica and Gascnleft the brief meeting with reporters without answering any other questions about a potential motive. Early Monday morning, around 2:00 a.m., reports of shots being fired in the 1500 block of Matlick Lane inside the Glenwood Mobile Estate in west Bishop, became an active shooter incident for several hours. About 50 people prayed and sang in a vigil Sunday afternoon near part of the neighborhood surrounded by crime scene tape. First published on February 19, 2023 / 10:56 PM. Colombia wants to deport "cocaine hippos" to stop them from multiplying, The crime scene evidence that convicted Alex Murdaugh. A deacon who had gone to check on O'Connell after he failed to show up for a meeting found him at his home just blocks from the St. John Vianney Catholic Church, part of his archdiocese, and called authorities, Luna said. I came to know him because of his passion in helping pass immigration reform.. Auxiliary Bishop David O'Connell, 69, was fatally shot Saturday in the bedroom of his home in Hacienda Heights, an unincorporated community about 20 miles east of downtown Los Angeles, Los. "But the sheriff's department responded very quickly, and then the paramedics came in, and it became obvious that it was not a natural death, that it was a crime," he said. The violence was the latest to rock religious leaders in Los Angeles. He didnt hold back his words. The beloved, 69-year-old "Bishop Dave" -- whom Archbishop Jos H. Gomez described as "a peacemaker with a heart for the poor and the immigrant" -- was found shot at his Hacienda Heights home just . He had suffered a gunshot wound and paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene, sheriffs officials said. He is set to be arraigned on February 22, 2023, in Department 30 of the Foltz Criminal Justice Center. Law enforcement said Bishop OConnell was found dead in his bed with one gunshot wound, according to the Los Angeles Times. He said detectives found no evidence of forced entry at the archdiocese-owned home and that Medinas wife was cooperating with detectives. We are deeply disturbed and saddened by this news, Archbishop Jos H. Gmez of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles said in a statement Sunday. He was a good priest and a good bishop and a man of peace and were very sad to lose him, added Gomez, his voice breaking. A suspect has been arrested in the fatal shooting of a Catholic bishop in his Los Angeles home. I was always impressed with Father Daves street smarts, compassion, and willingness to challenge people in power around a variety of issues, including immigrant rights, housing justice, racism, and public safety, Dreier wrote in a Facebook post. The man in custody has not yet been identified by law enforcement, but the arrest is tied to the death of Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles David OConnell, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office confirmed to the Washington Examiner. "He was a peacemaker and had a passion serving those in need while improving our community,"Sheriff Robert Luna said on Twitter. Bishop David O'Connell was found dead over the weekend in Hacienda Heights. A caller told authorities that Medina, 65, was acting irrationally and had made comments about OConnell owing him money," Luna said, adding that a motive in the killing remains under investigation. O'Connell, a Roman Catholic bishop in Southern California was shot and killed Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023, just blocks from a church, a slaying that's stunned the Los Angeles religious community, authorities said. 1996 - 2023 NewsHour Productions LLC. LOS ANGELES A Roman Catholic bishop in Southern California was shot and killed Saturday just blocks from a church, a slaying of a longtime priest hailed as a "peacemaker" that's stunned . Many have also expressed their hope that justice will be served and that Medina will be held accountable for his actions. Copyright 2023 TheAssociated Press. Luna said Medina is 65; however, jail records show the suspect as 61. Tributes have been paid to David OConnell, who was shot on Saturday. BISHOP, Calif. (News4 & Fox11) Two people have been shot, and one has died following a shooting in Bishop, California on Monday evening. The Los Angeles County Sheriffs Office said the alleged murder occurred early Saturday afternoon. It was a great way to finish the season. Law enforcement responded to the home following an. Authorities say a man has been arrested in the weekend killing of a Catholic auxiliary bishop that shocked Los Angeles religious and immigrant communities, Man Arrested in Catholic Bishop's Killing Had Worked for Him, FILE - Bishop David O'Connell, of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, attends a news conference at the Fall General Assembly meeting of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, on Nov. 17, 2021, in Baltimore. Associated Press writer Stefanie Dazio in Los Angeles contributed to this report. The Los Angeles County District Attorneys Office and the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department have pledged to do everything in their power to bring justice to Bishop OConnell and his family. By clicking submit, you are agreeing to our Terms and Conditions & Privacy Policy. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? IE 11 is not supported. More than a hundred people gathered in prayer next to Bishop David O'Connell's Hacienda Heights home Sunday night, now the site of both a crime scene and a growing memorial. Mourners gathered outside OConnells home over the weekend, laying candles and flowers at the intersection in front of his residence. OConnell worked in South Los Angeles for years and focused on gang intervention, Angelus News reported. He was made an auxiliary bishop in 2015, according to the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. A suspect has been arrested in the fatal shooting of Bishop David O'Connell of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, who was killed in his home in Hacienda Heights. He devoted himself to supporting immigrants, not only making sure that they have food and shelter, but even helping immigrant children, unaccompanied minors, get into Catholic schools, and he helped them get into college, she said. The 69-year-old, who was a priest and later a bishop in L.A. for 45 years, was pronounced dead at. Bishop OConnells family and friends have described him as a gentle, caring, and dedicated man who had a heart for the community. The third quarter saw Bishop come out hot and their defense tightened up as they closed out the quarter 20-5. They feel weve abandoned them. OConnell had been a priest for 45 years and was a native of Ireland, according to Angelus News, the news outlet of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, the nations largest. Andrew Blankstein is an investigative reporterfor NBC News. This is, I think, what our schools and parishes are all about. Ive never ever felt more understood by anyone in this world, she said. OMahony said it was a time of heartbreak, shock and tears for those who had known the bishop. Police said a source tipped them off that Medina claimed OConnell owed him money. The shooting death of Los Angeles Auxiliary Bishop David O'Connell known as a "peacemaker" is being investigated as a homicide, sheriff's officials said Sunday. The biggest advantage of this area is the vast amounts of public lands. In 2020, when Cunnane was hospitalized for several weeks with a blood infection, OConnell visited him almost every day. "His loss is one that will be felt deeply for years to come," said Gascn, a progressive prosecutor who survived a recall effort last year and is up for re-election in 2024. He devoted himself to supporting immigrants, not only making sure that they have food and shelter, but even helping immigrant children, unaccompanied minors, get into Catholic schools, and he helped them get into college, she said. It's a shock and I have no words to express my sadness," CBS Los Angeles reported. Los Angeles, K-Pop isnt the only hot ticket in Koreatown how trot is captivating immigrants, Los Angeles is suddenly awash in waterfalls, The Week in Photos: California exits pandemic emergency amid a winter landscape, Snowboarder dies at South Lake Tahoe resort, California to alter COVID rules in healthcare settings: Masks and vaccinations not required. O'Connell was found dead in Hacienda Heights, Calif., on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023, of a gunshot wound, according to the Los Angeles Times. A couple living on the quiet, tree-lined street said they heard no gunshot or other unusual noise before the arrival of firefighters and ambulance crews. Auxiliary Bishop David O'Connell was found dead Saturday in his home in the community of Hacienda Heights, some 20 miles east of downtown Los Angeles, in what is being investigated as a homicide,. The two friends met for dinner Thursday to catch up, Cunnane said, and they discussed plans for Cunnane to visit some parishes in OConnells region in the near future. The suspect in Bishop David OConnells shooting death is married to the clergymans housekeeper. Cunnane was on an oxygen machine at the time and had a terrible taste in his mouth, he recalled, so OConnell almost always brought him a kombucha drink when he visited. News of his killing stunned her just last year, O'Connell had presided over her son's confirmation. Carlos Medina is accused of fatally shooting Los Angeles Bishop David O'Connell in his Hacienda Heights home Saturday. Nearly two decades later, O'Connell brought the San Gabriel Valley community together to rebuild a mission there after an arson attack and in recent years spearheaded Catholic efforts in the region to work with immigrant children and families from Central America. "He was also a good friend, and I will miss him greatly," Gomez's statement added, according to CBS Los Angeles. District Attorney Gascn referred to the murder as a brutal act of violence against a person who dedicated his life to making our neighborhoods safer, healthier, and always serving with love and compassion. He added, As Catholics around Los Angeles and the nation start the holy season of Lent, let us reflect on Bishop OConnells life of service and dedication to those in greatest need of our care. Sign up to receive the latest updates from U.S News & World Report and our trusted partners and sponsors. Roman Catholic Auxiliary Bishop David OConnell in 2020. 2. Jonny Flores, a Rowland Heights resident who also knew OConnell from rallies, said the bishop was always generous with his time, no matter how small a parishioners request might be. Subscribe to Here's the Deal, our politics newsletter. Los Angeles, K-Pop isnt the only hot ticket in Koreatown how trot is captivating immigrants, Los Angeles is suddenly awash in waterfalls, The Week in Photos: California exits pandemic emergency amid a winter landscape, Snowboarder dies at South Lake Tahoe resort, California to alter COVID rules in healthcare settings: Masks and vaccinations not required. A man wanted in connection with the weekend murder of a longtime Los Angeles bishop was arrested early Monday, sources told the NBC4 I-Team. O'Connell was found fatally shot multiple times in his suburban Los Angeles home in Hacienda Heights on Saturday. The husband of an Irish bishops housekeeper has been arrested in connection with the bishops murder in Los Angeles. There was no forced entry, leading investigators to believe Medina had access to a key, having worked at O'Connell's home in the past, Gascnsaid. By News Staff on January 14, 2020 in General Misc. Stories, Law Enforcement, Press Release Sierra Wave Media received this supplemental release on the incident from January 6 :N. MAIN STREET SHELL GAS STATION SHOOTING Press Release #2 The man accused of fatally shooting a popular Southern California bishop said the slain priest owed him money, but investigators rejected the claim Wednesday. Damian Dovarganes, Associated Press. A suspect has been arrested in the fatal shooting of Catholic Auxiliary Bishop David O'Connell and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said it was the husband of the . And the migrant youths have become a metaphor for our whole society.. State Sen. Bob Archuleta, a former Pico Rivera mayor who served on the Montebello police force, said during the news conference that OConnell touched all of us, calling him our bishop, your bishop., He said OConnell had an ability to walk the streets, everywhere he went bringing people together with clergy, bringing other priests together, bringing families together, gang members together. Deputies said that O'Connell was shot in his home and that his death is "suspicious," CBS Los Angeles reported. A native of this parish of Glounthaune, who was baptised here in this church in 1953, so brutally killed and murdered in his home in Los Angeles, we pray for him at this time, for all the good work he has done as priest and bishop, he said. We are deeply disturbed and saddened by this news. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. David O'Connell was found dead in his home on Saturday. Rodriguez reported from San Francisco. Neighbors and parishioners left flowers and candles and prayed the rosary next to police tape in Hacienda Heights. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. He was a good priest and a good bishop and a man of peace and were very sad to lose him, added Gomez, his voice breaking. During Mass on Saturday, Archbishop Jos H. Gomez, said, "Our beloved Auxiliary Bishop David O'Conell has passed away unexpectedly. Sheriff's deputies were called to the area just blocks from the St. John Vianney Catholic Church, which is part of O'Connell's archdiocese on a report of a medical emergency. By Angelus Staff OSV News LOS ANGELES The suspect in the shooting death of Los Angeles Auxiliary Bishop David G. O'Connell was formally charged with murder Feb. 22 after admitting to killing him. LOS ANGELES -- The shooting death of an auxiliary bishop with the Archdiocese of Los Angeles in Hacienda Heights is being investigated as a murder, authorities confirmed. Deputies answering a call for a medical emergency shortly before 1 p.m. Saturday found OConnell. One member of law enforcement said the suspect is a man who was detained in Torrance and is linked to a woman who had access to the home, the outlet added. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. The LA County sheriff offered the agency's condolences, saying detectives are "committed to arresting those responsible for this horrible crime.". "I asked him if he would pray over my belly," she told The Associated Press as she and her family paid their respects at the crime scene. Times staff writer Michael Finnegan contributed to this report. He was truly a man of the cloth., Supervisor Hilda Solis said her heart is broken. OConnells death really hits home for some of us, she said, because he was a personal friend and someone who was very valiant and some one who cared for our community, especially the immigrant community. "When he was interviewed he spoke, he said several different reasons" for wanting to kill O'Connell, Modica told reporters. Stay informed daily on the latest news and advice on COVID-19 from the editors at U.S. News & World Report. The sheriff said detectives first linked Medina to the crime after finding surveillance video that showed his SUV in the driveway of O'Connell's home at the time of the killing.