Los Angeles Catholic auxiliary bishop found fatally shot; homicide investigation underway
Homicide #Homicide
The shooting death of a high-ranking Catholic Church bishop in Los Angeles is being investigated as a homicide, authorities said Sunday.
Auxiliary Bishop David O’Connell was found dead at a home in Hacienda Heights, about 15 miles east of downtown Los Angeles, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said.
Homicide detectives arrived at the home Saturday afternoon to respond to a “shooting death investigation,” where O’Connell was pronounced dead at the scene. Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Lt. Michael Modica initially told reporters Saturday night that O’Connell’s death was being investigated as “suspicious,” but authorities were not searching for a suspect and didn’t believe there is any threat to the public.
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“We are working diligently to seek those responsible for his death,” the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said in a statement.
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O’Connell, who was from Ireland, was ordained as a priest for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles in 1979, the Vatican News reported. Pope Francis appointed him Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles in June 2015.
The role of an auxiliary bishop is the second highest position in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, behind the Archbishop, according to the archdiocese. Bishops “assist with the pastoral and administrative needs” of the archdiocese.
Los Angeles Archbishop José H. Gomez said in a statement Saturday that O’Connell’s death was a “shock and I have no words to express my sadness.”
“He was a peacemaker with a heart for the poor and the immigrant, and he had a passion for building a community where the sanctity and dignity of every human life was honored and protected,” Gomez said. “He was also a good friend, and I will miss him greatly.”
Gomez said Sunday that he was “deeply disturbed and saddened” to learn O’Connell’s death was ruled a homicide.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Los Angeles Catholic auxiliary bishop found fatally shot; homicide investigation underway