A suspect has been arrested and now publicly identified in the killing of Los Angeles Auxiliary Bishop David O’Connell, who was shot in his home Feb. 18.
In a press conference Feb. 20, Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department Sheriff Robert Luna announced that charges would be brought against a Hispanic male, 65-year-old Carlos Medina, the husband of Bishop O’Connell’s housekeeper.
It is currently unclear if the housekeeper is employed by Bishop O’Connell directly or by the archdiocese, Luna said. He added that Medina has “previously done work at the bishop’s residence.”
CNA asked the archdiocese if Medina or his wife had been employed by the archdiocese but did not immediately receive a response prior to publication.
Luna said he had no information about a motive at the time of the press conference.
In detectives’ search for the killer, Luna said that Sunday evening they were tipped off about a person of interest in the city of Torrance, a 45-minute drive southwest from Hacienda Heights, where Bishop O’Connell was found dead.
Detectives identified the person of interest as Medina on Sunday evening after the tipster told them that Medina was exhibiting “strange” and “irrational” behavior and had “made comments about the bishop owing him money.”
Police also discovered video evidence of a “dark-colored, compact SUV” that had pulled into the bishop’s driveway, stayed for a short time, and then left, the sheriff said.
Medina drove a similar type of vehicle, Luna said.
Sheriff’s deputies arrived at Medina’s home Feb. 20 at about 2 a.m. local time after being tipped off that he arrived at his residence.
With a warrant in hand for his arrest, sheriff’s deputies called for Medina to surrender, but he refused to come out of his residence.
The sheriff department’s Special Enforcement Bureau personnel arrived at the scene with an amended warrant to search Medina’s home and arrest him. Medina exited his home and surrendered to authorities at 8:15 a.m. “without further incident,” Luna said.
Neither Medina nor his wife had worked at the bishop’s residence the day of the murder, Luna said. Medina’s wife is being interviewed by detectives and has been cooperative, according to the sheriff.
Bishop Michael F. Burbidge issued a statement Feb. 19 mourning the killing and urging prayers for several intentions.
“Joining my brother bishops, particularly Archbishop (Josè H.) Gomez of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, I express my deepest sadness at the homicide committed against Bishop David O’Connell. Widely regarded for his love and pastoral care for the vulnerable and disadvantaged, for four and a half decades he served the people of Los Angeles with great zeal and devotion. I ask all in the Diocese of Arlington to pray for the repose of Bishop O’Connell’s soul, for his grieving family and friends, and for the faithful of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles who have lost a faithful shepherd. Please also pray for investigators as they conduct their work regarding this grievous crime.”
When deputies and paramedics arrived at Bishop O’Connell’s residence at the 1500 block of Janlu Avenue, Hacienda Heights, Feb. 18, they discovered him with “at least” one gunshot wound to his upper body while in his bedroom, Luna said.
Luna said there was no evidence of a “forced entry” or “burglary” and added that no firearm was found at the scene.
Two firearms “and other evidence” possibly incriminating Medina were found at his residence in Torrance during his arrest, the sheriff said.
Those firearms will be examined and tested in a crime lab to determine if they were used in the murder.
Luna said that he believed it was a deacon who called police after discovering that Bishop O’Connell had been shot. He had gone to check on the bishop when he had failed to show up for a scheduled meeting.
Several local officials and politicians spoke at the press conference, including Archbishop Gomez, who broke into tears and struggled to complete his brief comments on Bishop O’Connell.
“Out of his love for God, he served this city for more than 40 years,” Gomez said.
“Every day he worked to show compassion to the poor, to the homeless, to the immigrant, and to all those living on society’s margins. He was a good priest and a good bishop and a man of peace, and we are very sad to lose him,” Gomez said.
The Catholic Herald contributed to this story.
