Catholic Bishop of Los Angeles David O’Connell found dead by gunshot

The shooting death of a high-ranking bishop of the Catholic Church in Los Angeles is being investigated as a homicide, authorities said Sunday.

Auxiliary Bishop David O’Connell was found dead in a home in Hacienda Heights, about 15 miles east of downtown Los Angeles, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department announced.

Homicide detectives arrived at the home on Saturday afternoon to respond to a “shooting death investigation”, where O’Connell was pronounced dead at the scene. Lt. Michael Modica of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department first told reporters Saturday night that O’Connell’s death was being investigated as “suspicious,” but authorities were not looking for any details. suspicious and did not believe there was a threat to the public.

“We are working diligently to find those responsible for his death,” the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said. said in a press release.

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“He was a peacemaker”

O’Connell, who was from Ireland, was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles in 1979, 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 archbishop, according to the archdiocese. Bishops “respond to the pastoral and administrative needs” of the archdiocese.

Los Angeles Archbishop Jose 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 immigrants, 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 very much.”

Gomez said Sunday he was “deeply disturbed and saddened” to learn that O’Connell’s death had been ruled a homicide.

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