An arrest has been made in connection to the dying of Los Angeles Auxiliary Bishop David O’Connell, who was discovered useless in his Hacienda Heights house on Saturday.
Los Angeles Sheriff Robert Luna mentioned 65-year-old Carlos Medina of Torrance is the suspect within the dying of the high-ranking Catholic bishop. Luna, in a Monday afternoon information convention, mentioned Medina is the husband of O’Connell’s housekeeper and that Medina had “accomplished work” across the residence earlier than.
“Detectives have been informed by a tipster that they have been involved as a result of Medina was performing unusual, irrational and made feedback concerning the bishop owing him cash,” Luna mentioned.
The sheriff mentioned Medina drove an SUV just like one surveillance footage confirmed within the bishop’s driveway for a short while on the day O’Connell was discovered.
Authorities have been alerted Medina had left Los Angeles County Sunday and a warrant was issued for his arrest, Luna mentioned.
By 2 a.m. Monday, investigators realized that Medina had returned to his house in Torrance, about 25 miles southwest of Hacienda Park, and responding officers “carried out name outs for Medina to give up, however he refused,” Luna mentioned.
At about 8:15 a.m. Monday, Medina got here out of his house and was taken into custody, Luna mentioned.
Two firearms have been recovered from Medina’s residence, Luna mentioned, and detectives will study the firearms to find out in the event that they have been utilized in O’Connell’s dying. The sheriff added detectives have been in touch with the housekeeper, who was not named, as she was not working on the house the day O’Connell’s physique was discovered.
“She’s been absolutely cooperative and aiding the detectives with all the data they’ve,” Luna mentioned.
What we find out about O’Connell’s capturing dying
Murder detectives arrived on the house in Hacienda Heights, about 15 miles east of downtown Los Angeles, Saturday afternoon to reply to a “capturing dying investigation.”
Luna mentioned a deacon went to O’Connell’s house to test on him as a result of O’Connell was late for a gathering, and the deacon alerted authorities.
Officers discovered O’Connell, 69, with a gunshot wound in his higher physique and he was pronounced useless on the scene, Luna mentioned. There was no signal of pressured entry into the house.
O’Connell, who was from Eire, was ordained as a priest for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles in 1979, the Vatican Information reported. Pope Francis appointed him Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles in June 2015.
Los Angeles Archbishop José H. Gomez mentioned in an announcement Sunday he was “deeply disturbed and saddened” to study O’Connell’s dying was being investigated as a murder and requested for prayers for his household. O’Connell was good friend of Los Angeles and he confirmed compassion to these battling poverty within the space, Gomez mentioned Monday.
“He was priest and bishop and a person of peace,” Gomez mentioned. “We’re very unhappy to lose him.”
Luna mentioned authorities are working to prosecute Medina.
Contributing: The Related Press
Observe Jordan Mendoza on Twitter: @jordan_mendoza5.
