LA Bishop David O’Connell Taking pictures Loss of life: Suspect Arrested

On Monday, the LAPD arrested 65-year-old handyman Carlos Medina in reference to the homicide, LA County Sheriff Robert Luna introduced in a press convention.

Based on Luna, police first responded to O’Connell’s house on Sunday, the place the clergyman was pronounced deceased. His loss of life initially “appeared suspicious in nature,” as he had sustained “a minimum of one gunshot wound to the higher physique” whereas in his bed room. No firearm was discovered on the scene and there was no compelled entry to the residence.

As murder investigators and the coroner’s workplace each set to work, it was later decided his loss of life was a homicide.

All through the investigation Sunday, authorities discovered safety footage displaying a dark-colored compact SUV pulling into the bishop’s driveway for a brief time period … earlier than cops acquired a tip about Medina. Per Luna, the tipster “was “involved as a result of Medina was performing unusual, irrational and made feedback in regards to the bishop owing him cash.”

Medina, mentioned Luna, is the husband of O’Connell’s housekeeper. He added that Medina beforehand did work on the bishop’s house himself and drove an SUV just like the one seen on the scene.

Following a standoff with police, by which he refused to go away his house, Medina ultimately got here out and was taken into custody “with out additional incident.” Police then discovered two firearms and different proof “probably linking Medina to the crime” — although Luna mentioned the weapons nonetheless have to be examined within the lab “to find out if both of these firearms have been used within the homicide.”

“My coronary heart grieves. Though I personally didn’t know the bishop, I can’t inform you what number of cellphone calls I acquired over the previous 48 hours,” Luna mentioned through the presser. “This man, this bishop, made an enormous distinction in our neighborhood. He was liked.”

O’Connell, an Eire native, was a priest and later a bishop in Los Angeles for 45 years. In an announcement, Archbishop José Gomez referred to him as “a peacemaker with a coronary heart for the poor and the immigrant, and a ardour for constructing a neighborhood the place the sanctity and dignity of each human life have been honored and guarded.”