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Man arrested in bishop’s slaying

LOS ANGELES - A man arrested Monday in the weekend killing of a Catholic bishop that shocked Los Angeles religious and immigrant communities is the husband of the victim’s housekeeper and had done work at his home, authorities said.

Auxiliary Bishop David O’Connell, 69, was fatally shot Saturday in the bedroom of his home in Hacienda Heights, an unincorporated community about 20 miles east of downtown Los Angeles, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said.

A SWAT team arrested Carlos Medina, the husband of O’Connell’s housekeeper, at their home in Torrance, about 35 miles southwest of Hacienda Heights, Luna said.

The sheriff said detectives first linked Medina to the crime after finding surveillance video that showed his SUV in the driveway of O’Connell’s home at the time of the killing.

A caller told authorities that Medina, 65, was acting irrationally and had made comments about O’Connell “owing him money,” Luna said, adding that a motive in the killing remains under investigation.

He said detectives found no evidence of forced entry at the archdiocese-owned home and that Medina’s wife was cooperating with detectives. Detectives recovered weapons at Medina’s home and ballistic tests are pending, Luna said.

It was not immediately known if Medina has an attorney who can speak on his behalf.

A deacon who had gone to check on O’Connell after he failed to show up for a meeting found him at his home just blocks from the St. John Vianney Catholic Church, part of his archdiocese, and called authorities, Luna said.

O’Connell had been a priest for 45 years and was a native of Ireland, according to Angelus News, the news outlet of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, the nation’s largest. In 2015, Pope Francis named him one of several auxiliary bishops of the archdiocese.

O’Connell worked in South Los Angeles for years and focused on gang intervention, Angelus News reported. He later sought to broker peace between residents and law enforcement following the violent 1992 uprising after a jury acquitted four white LA police officers in the beating of Rodney King, a Black man.

Nearly two decades later, O’Connell brought the San Gabriel Valley community together to rebuild a mission there destroyed in an arson attack.

In recent years he also spearheaded Catholic efforts in the region to work with immigrant children and families from Central America.

Los Angeles Archbishop Jose H. Gomez said Monday that O’Connell spoke fluent Spanish with an Irish accent and every day showed “compassion to the poor, to the homeless, to the immigrant, and to all those living on society’s margins.”

“He was a good priest and a good bishop and a man of peace and we’re very sad to lose him,” added Gomez.

The violence was the latest to rock religious leaders in Los Angeles. Two Jewish men were shot and wounded last week by a gunman who authorities said had targeted them for their faith. Suspect Jaime Tran has been charged with federal hate crimes.

FILE - Bishop David O'Connell, of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, attends a news conference at the Fall General Assembly meeting of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, on Nov. 17, 2021, in Baltimore. O'Connell was found dead in Hacienda Heights, Calif., on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023, of a gunshot wound, according to the Los Angeles Times. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna, right, hugs Archbishop of Los Angeles, Jose H. Gomez during a news conference announcing an arrest has been made in connection to the murder of Catholic auxiliary bishop David O'Connell, who was fatally shot over the weekend in Hacienda Heights, at a news conference at the Hall of Justice Monday, Feb. 20, 2023 in Los Angeles. Luna says a SWAT team arrested Carlos Medina in the morning at his home in Torrance, about 35 miles (56 kilometers), southwest of Hacienda Heights, where Auxiliary Bishop David O'Connell was killed. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Gabriela Gil and her children pay their respects to Bishop David O'Connell at the corner of his home in Hacienda Heights, Calif., Sunday, Feb. 19, 2023. O'Connell was shot and killed Saturday just blocks from a church, a slaying of a longtime priest hailed as a â??peacemakerâ? that's stunned the Los Angeles religious community, authorities said. Detectives are investigating the death as a homicide, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)
FILE - Auxiliary Bishop David O'Connell, right, from the San Gabriel Pastoral Region, is revered by an unidentified pilgrim, left, after a special 'Mass in Recognition of All Immigrants'' at the Los Angeles Cathedral of Our Lady of Angels in Los Angeles Sunday, June 24, 2018. O'Connell, a Roman Catholic bishop in Southern California was shot and killed Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023, just blocks from a church, a slaying that's stunned the Los Angeles religious community, authorities said. Detectives are investigating the death of Bishop Oâ??Connell as a homicide, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)
An image of Bishop David O'Connell is posted on the post of a street sign near his home in Hacienda Heights, Calif., Sunday, Feb. 19, 2023. O'Connell was shot and killed Saturday just blocks from a church, a slaying of a longtime priest hailed as a â??peacemakerâ? that's stunned the Los Angeles religious community, authorities said. Detectives are investigating the death as a homicide, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Authorities talk near the home of Bishop David O'Connell in Hacienda Heights, Calif., Sunday, Feb. 19, 2023. O'Connell was shot and killed Saturday just blocks from a church, a slaying of a longtime priest hailed as a 'peacemaker' that's stunned the Los Angeles religious community, authorities said. Detectives are investigating the death as a homicide, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Candles and messages are left near Bishop David O'Connell's residence in Hacienda Heights, Calif., Sunday, Feb. 19, 2023. O'Connell was shot and killed Saturday just blocks from a church, a slaying of a longtime priest hailed as a â??peacemakerâ? that's stunned the Los Angeles religious community, authorities said. Detectives are investigating the death of Bishop David Oâ??Connell as a homicide, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
An image of Bishop David O'Connell is posted on the post of a street sign near his home in Hacienda Heights, Calif., Sunday, Feb. 19, 2023. O'Connell was shot and killed Saturday just blocks from a church, a slaying of a longtime priest hailed as a 'peacemaker' that's stunned the Los Angeles religious community, authorities said. Detectives are investigating the death as a homicide, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
A forensic investigator leaves the home of Bishop David O'Connell in Hacienda Heights, Calif., Sunday, Feb. 19, 2023. O'Connell was shot and killed Saturday just blocks from a church, a slaying of a longtime priest hailed as a â??peacemakerâ? that's stunned the Los Angeles religious community, authorities said. Detectives are investigating the death as a homicide, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Ramona Torres brings flowers and a framed message to pay her respects to Bishop David O'Connell near his home in Hacienda Heights, Calif., Sunday, Feb. 19, 2023. O'Connell was shot and killed Saturday just blocks from a church, a slaying of a longtime priest hailed as a â??peacemakerâ? that's stunned the Los Angeles religious community, authorities said. Detectives are investigating the death as a homicide, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
The Rev. Albert Avenido, left, and sacristan Hector Ibarra lead members of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Covina, Calif., on a prayer vigil for Bishop David O'Connell near his home in Hacienda Heights, Calif., Sunday, Feb. 19, 2023. Bishop David O'Connell, a Roman Catholic bishop in Southern California was shot and killed Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023, just blocks from a church, a slaying that's stunned the Los Angeles religious community, authorities said. Detectives are investigating the death of Bishop David O'Connell as a homicide, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Rev. Albert Avenido, far left, and Sacristan Hector Ibarra, second from left, lead members of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Covina, Calif., on a prayer vigil for Bishop David O'Connell at the corner of his home in Hacienda Heights, Calif., Sunday, Feb. 19, 2023. According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, detectives are investigating the death of Oâ??Connell, who was shot and killed Saturday just blocks from a church, as a homicide. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Michael Cole prays the rosary as he joins a group prayer to honor Bishop David O'Connell at the corner of his home in Hacienda Heights, Calif., Sunday, Feb. 19, 2023. According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, detectives are investigating the death of Oâ??Connell, who was shot and killed Saturday just blocks from a church, as a homicide. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Rosa Maria Perez, with her granddaughter Abigail Gil, pay their respects to Bishop David O'Connell at the corner of his home in Hacienda Heights, Calif., Sunday, Feb. 19, 2023. According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, detectives are investigating the death of Oâ??Connell, who was shot and killed Saturday just blocks from a church, as a homicide. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Gabriela Gil pays her respects to Bishop David O'Connell at the corner of his home in Hacienda Heights, Calif., Sunday, Feb. 19, 2023. According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, detectives are investigating the death of Oâ??Connell, who was shot and killed Saturday just blocks from a church, as a homicide. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Rev. Albert Avenido holds his hands on his cheek, as he quotes the Bible verse Matthew 5:38â??39 during a prayer vigil for Bishop David O'Connell at the corner of his home in Hacienda Heights, Calif., Sunday, Feb. 19, 2023. According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, detectives are investigating the death of Oâ??Connell, who was shot and killed Saturday just blocks from a church, as a homicide. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Neighbors and parishioners pray the rosary for Bishop David O'Connell near his home in Hacienda Heights, Calif., Sunday, Feb. 19, 2023. O'Connell was shot and killed Saturday just blocks from a church, a slaying of a longtime priest hailed as a â??peacemakerâ? that's stunned the Los Angeles religious community, authorities said. Detectives are investigating the death as a homicide, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna, right, hugs Archbishop of Los Angeles, Jose H. Gomez as he speaks during a news conference announcing an arrest has been made in connection to the murder of Catholic auxiliary bishop David O'Connell, who was fatally shot over the weekend in Hacienda Heights, at a news conference at the Hall of Justice Monday, Feb. 20, 2023 in Los Angeles. Luna says a SWAT team arrested Carlos Medina in the morning at his home in Torrance, about 35 miles (56 kilometers), southwest of Hacienda Heights, where Auxiliary Bishop David O'Connell was killed. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Archbishop of Los Angeles, Jose H. Gomez thanks Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna's deputies and investigators during a news conference announcing an arrest has been made in connection to the murder of Catholic auxiliary Bishop David O'Connell, who was fatally shot over the weekend in Southern California, at the Hall of Justice Monday, Feb. 20, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna, right, hugs Archbishop of Los Angeles, Jose H. Gomez as he pauses in silence during a news conference announcing an arrest has been made in connection to the murder of Catholic auxiliary bishop David O'Connell, who was fatally shot over the weekend in Hacienda Heights, at a news conference at the Hall of Justice Monday, Feb. 20, 2023 in Los Angeles. Luna says a SWAT team arrested Carlos Medina in the morning at his home in Torrance, about 35 miles (56 kilometers), southwest of Hacienda Heights, where Auxiliary Bishop David O'Connell was killed. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)