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An arrest has been made in reference to the death of Los Angeles Auxiliary Bishop David O’Connell, who was discovered useless at his Hacienda Heights residence on Saturday.
Los Angeles Sheriff Robert Luna mentioned Carlos Medina, 65, of Torrance is a suspect in the death of a high-ranking Catholic bishop. Luna mentioned at a information convention Monday afternoon that Medina is the husband of O’Connell’s housekeeper and that Medina had beforehand “worked” across the residence.
“Detectives were told by a tipster that they were concerned because Medina was behaving strangely, irrationally and made comments about paying bishops,” Luna mentioned.
The sheriff mentioned that Medina drove an SUV just like the one proven in surveillance footage in Bishop’s driveway for a short while the day O’Connell was discovered.
Luna mentioned authorities had been alerted that Medina had left Los Angeles County on Sunday and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
Luna mentioned that by 2 a.m. Monday, investigators discovered that Medina had returned to her residence in Torrance, about 25 miles southwest of Hacienda Park, and that responding officers “put out a call for Medina to surrender.” , however he refused.”
Luna said Medina stepped out of her home at around 8.15 am on Monday and was taken into custody.
Two firearms were recovered from Medina’s residence, Luna said, and detectives will examine the firearms to determine whether they were used in O’Connell’s death. The sheriff said detectives were in contact with the housekeeper, who was not named because she was not working at the house the day O’Connell’s body was found.
“She is totally cooperative and serving to detectives with all the knowledge they’ve,” Luna mentioned.
What we know about O’Connell’s shooting death
Homicide detectives arrived at the home in Hacienda Heights, about 15 miles east of downtown Los Angeles, on Saturday afternoon to respond to a “taking pictures death investigation.”
Luna said that a deacon went to O’Connell’s home to check on him because O’Connell was late for a meeting, and the deacon alerted authorities.
Luna said officers found 69-year-old O’Connell with a gunshot wound to his upper body and he was pronounced dead at the scene. There were no signs of forced entry into the home.
O’Connell, who was from Eire, was ordained as a priest for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles in 1979. Vatican News reported, Pope Francis appointed him Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles in June 2015.
Los Angeles Archbishop Jose H. Gomez said in a statement on Sunday He was “deeply disturbed and saddened” to learn that O’Connell’s death was being investigated as a homicide and asked for prayers for his family. Gomez said Monday that O’Connell was a good friend of Los Angeles and showed compassion for poverty-stricken people in the area.
Gomez said, “He was a great priest and a great bishop and a person of peace.” “We’re very unhappy to have misplaced him.”
Luna said authorities are working to prosecute Medina.
Contribution: Associated Press
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