A Los Angeles-area community is stunned after a beloved Catholic auxiliary bishop known as a “peacemaker” was shot and killed Saturday near his church.
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Bishop David O’Connell’s tragic death is being investigated as a homicide, with the individual or individuals responsible still at large, the Guardian reported.
The priest was reportedly found with a gunshot wound to his torso in Hacienda Heights around 1 p.m. Saturday, and was pronounced dead at the scene.
O’Connell, 69, was a native of Ireland and a priest for more than four decades, with his work in bridge-building over the years making a difference in his community. He was also known for helping the poor, according to those familiar with his work.
The faith leader’s death is sparking shock and sadness, especially as questions about motive and other elements of the case remain unanswered.
“We can only imagine how the community is suffering because of this senseless murder,” the Los Angeles Country Sheriff’s Department (LASD) said in a Facebook statement over the weekend. “Bishop O’Connell was a guiding light for so many, and his legacy will continue to live on through the community that he helped build.”
The post went on to note people are not alone in their grief and that the police department is there to support those suffering from these tragic events.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with you, and we are working diligently to seek those responsible,” the LASD concluded.
With details on the case sparse, Los Angeles Archbishop José H. Gomez put out a statement expressing lament and briefly addressing the homicide investigation.
“We learned early this morning from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s office that they have determined that the death of Auxiliary Bishop David O’Connell yesterday was a homicide,” Gomez wrote. “We are deeply disturbed and saddened by this news.”
The statement called for prayer as authorities investigate what unfolded. Gomez also said O’Connell will be remembered as “a man of deep prayer.”
“He was a peacemaker with a heart for the poor and the immigrant, and he had a passion for building a community where the sanctity and dignity of every human life was honored and protected,” Gomez added.
O’Connell was born in County Cork, Ireland, in 1952, and was ordained to the priesthood in 1979.
Before becoming an auxiliary bishop in 2015, he served as a priest at several Los Angeles churches, according to The New York Times.
Hundreds of people gathered covered the weekend outside O’Connell’s home for a prayer vigil. Continue to pray for friends, loved ones, and parishioners struggling during this difficult time.
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