Feb. 20 (UPI) -- A suspect is in custody in connection to the shooting death of 69-year-old Bishop David O'Connell of the Los Angeles Archdiocese.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna announced the arrest of 65-year-old Carlos Medina during a press conference on Monday. Medina was arrested at his home in Torrance early Monday morning.
The sheriff identified Medina as the husband of a housekeeper who worked for O'Connell. He said the department received a tip that Medina made comments about O'Connell owing him money. Video surveillance showed a dark-colored SUV matching one driven by the housekeeper pull into O'Connell's driveway, stay for a few minutes then leave on Saturday.
The auxiliary bishop was found dead in his home in the Hacienda Heights community in Los Angeles County, Calif., shortly before 1 p.m. on Saturday. O'Connell had served the Los Angeles Archdiocese since 1979.
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When deputies arrived at O'Connell's home responding to a medical emergency, they reportedly discovered the bishop dead from a gunshot wound to the upper torso. The shooting is being investigated as a homicide.
The sheriff's department received another tip that Medina had left Los Angeles County, only to return early Monday morning. The department had received a warrant for his arrest and went to the home in Torrance, but Medina refused to exit. The department's special enforcement bureau was called to the scene before Medina exited the home and was arrested without further incident at about 8:15 a.m.
"I am very sad this afternoon to report that our beloved Auxiliary Bishop David O'Connell has passed away unexpectedly," Archbishop José H. Gomez said in a statement. "It is a shock, and I have no words to express my sadness."
Gomez said O'Connell was a "peacemaker" who was particularly passionate about helping the poor and immigrants.
O'Connell was an immigrant, as well. Born in County Cork, Ireland, he studied at the All Hallows College in Dublin before moving to Los Angeles in 1979.
A stream of parishioners and community members have visited a vigil outside O'Connell's home since his death Saturday, CBS News reports.
Janice Hahn, chairperson of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, recalled O'Connell as a longtime friend in a tweet.
"I was very sad to learn of the passing of Bishop O'Connell. He was a longtime friend. I was fortunate to work with him during my time on the city council and again as supervisor. I join with Archbishop Gomez and the people of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles in mourning his loss," she tweeted.
