A male suspect was taken into custody mid-morning Feb. 20 in connection with the killing of a beloved Catholic leader—Auxiliary Bishop David O’Connell—who was fatally shot in his home, in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Hacienda Heights, Feb. 18.
Further details on the suspect will be announced this afternoon at 3 p.m. during a Los Angeles Sherrif’s Department press conference.
The sheriff’s department confirmed an arrest, believed related to the case and reported by various news outlets, in a Twitter post of an “armed, barricaded” suspect in Torrance after a lengthy standoff on Kenwood Avenue.
Authorities took the suspect into custody shortly after 9 a.m.
O’Connell was found dead with a single gunshot wound to the chest on Saturday just before 1 p.m. Authorities also noted that there were no signs of forced entry at the home—which is owned by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles—leading them to believe that the crime was not a random act.
Lt. Michael Modica confirmed that O’Connell, 69, was discovered in a room of the house, with an apparent gunshot wound to the upper body.
Los Angeles Archbishop José Gomez issued a statement mourning the loss of O’Connell, who had served as a priest and bishop in the city for 45 years. Gomez praised O’Connell’s work as a “peacemaker” with a heart for the marginalized, adding that his dedication to building a community that honored the dignity of all human life would be sorely missed.
“He was also a good friend, and I will miss him greatly. I know we all will. Please join me in praying for Bishop Dave and for his family in Ireland,” Gomez said. “May Our Lady of Guadalupe wrap him in the mantle of her love, and may the angels lead him into paradise, and may he rest in peace.”
O’Connell was born in County Cork, Ireland, and was ordained to serve in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles in 1979.
According to Doris Benavides, spokesperson for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, in September, O’Connell was recognized with the Evangelii Gaudium Award by St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo for his exceptional service to the community and the Catholic Church in Los Angeles.
O’Connell was actively involved in various charitable causes and community work. He chaired the interdiocesan Southern California Immigration Task Force, which coordinated the Catholic Church’s response to immigrants from Central America. O’Connell also helped to enroll several young immigrants in Catholic schools, many of whom have since graduated from college.
On Saturday night, a group of mourners gathered at the intersection of Janlu and Los Robles avenues with candles and recited the rosary to honor O’Connell’s memory. As of Monday, a memorial outside his home was continuing to expand with mementos left by mourners.
O’Connell, also known as “Bishop Dave,” was the vicar for the San Gabriel Pastoral Region of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles at the time of his death. He was appointed to this position in 2015 by Pope Francis, after serving as an auxiliary bishop for the same archdiocese.
Previously, he had worked as an associate pastor in various Catholic churches in Downey, Long Beach, and Pico Rivera, and later became the pastor of several churches in South Los Angeles.
“Being the pastor for these people, especially those who are struggling, in need, or facing adversity, has been the highlight of my life,” said O’Connell in 2015 after being ordained a bishop. “It has been a tremendous privilege and a true blessing to have been assigned to these parishes over the years and to have been their pastor. The sincerity and genuine nature of these people have touched my heart deeply.”