Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office released information about the suspect in the shooting death Monday of an auxiliary bishop.
David O’Connell, 69, was found dead at his Hacienda Heights home from a gunshot wound.
During Monday’s media briefing, a spokesperson for the sheriff’s department told reporters that Carlos Medina, 65 years old was arrested after they received many tips from the public.
Medina is the husband of a housekeeper who worked for O’Connell and had done work at his home. Sheriff Robert Luna told reporters that Medina was arrested after a night-long standoff at his residence.
Luna stated that two firearms and evidence linking Medina to the crime were recovered by detectives.
KABC-TV reported that a car believed to belong to Medina was towed away from the residence. This matches the description of a car captured in front of the bishop’s residence by a neighbor’s security camera.
Luna stated that a tipster had told them Medina was acting strangely, and that he said something about the bishop owing money to him. He said that they hadn’t yet determined a motive for the shooting.
The New York Post was told by neighbors that Medina had cared for the beloved dog of the bishop.
O’Connell, a native of County Cork in Ireland, was an ex-patriot who served for 45 years in the Los Angeles archdiocese. O’Connell was a champion of gun control, immigration, and the prevention of gang violence.
Jose H. Gomez, Archbishop of Los Angeles, said Saturday that Bishop Dave was a man who practiced deep prayer. He was passionate about building a community that respected and protected the dignity and sanctity of all human lives.
More information about the Los Angeles arrest:
