LOS ANGELES (AP) — A suspect has been arrested within the killing of a Catholic bishop who was fatally shot over the weekend in Southern California in a criminal offense that shocked the Los Angeles spiritual and immigrant communities, authorities mentioned Monday.
The particular person was arrested within the killing of Auxiliary Bishop David O’Connell, who was present in his residence with a gunshot wound and declared useless on the scene, Los Angeles Sheriff’s Deputy Lizette Falcon mentioned.
Sheriff Robert Luna was anticipated to offer particulars at a information convention at 3 p.m. Pacific time.
O’Connell, 69, was killed simply blocks from the St. John Vianney Catholic Church, a part of his archdiocese, in Hacienda Heights, an unincorporated neighborhood about 20 miles (30 kilometers) east of downtown Los Angeles.
O’Connell was discovered round 1 p.m. Saturday with a gunshot wound. Sheriff’s deputies have been referred to as to the realm for a report of a medical emergency. Authorities haven’t mentioned whether or not the bishop was focused or if his faith may need been an element.
O’Connell had been a priest for 45 years and was a local of Eire, based on Angelus Information, the information outlet of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, the nation’s largest. In 2015, Pope Francis named him considered one of a number of auxiliary bishops of the archdiocese.
O’Connell labored in South Los Angeles for years and centered on gang intervention, Angelus Information reported. He later sought to dealer peace between residents and regulation enforcement following the violent 1992 rebellion after a jury acquitted 4 white LA law enforcement officials within the beating of Rodney King, a Black man.
Almost twenty years later, O’Connell introduced the San Gabriel Valley neighborhood collectively to rebuild a mission there destroyed an arson assault. In recent times he additionally spearheaded Catholic efforts within the area to work with immigrant youngsters and households from Central America.
Sheriff Luna referred to as O’Connell a peacemaker and provided the company’s condolences.
“He was a peacemaker and had a ardour serving these in want whereas bettering our neighborhood,” Sheriff Robert Luna mentioned on Twitter.
Neighbors and parishioners left flowers and candles and prayed the rosary subsequent to police tape in Hacienda Heights on Sunday.
Gabriela Gil, who first met O’Connell when she was pregnant together with her youngest little one, was amongst those that prayed outdoors O’Connell’s residence.
“I’ve by no means ever felt extra understood by anybody on this world,” she mentioned.
The Diocese of Cork and Ross in Eire, the place O’Connell was born, was shocked by the priest’s loss of life. Bishop Fintan Gavin mentioned in a press release that O’Connell “has all the time maintained his reference to household and buddies in Cork” by frequent visits again to Eire.
The violence was the most recent to rock spiritual leaders in Los Angeles. Two Jewish males have been shot and wounded final week by a gunman who authorities mentioned had focused them for his or her religion. Suspect Jaime Tran has been charged with federal hate crimes.
___ Rodriguez reported from San Francisco. Related Press author Stefanie Dazio in Los Angeles contributed to this report.