Murder suspect arrested in killing of Catholic Bishop David O’Connell

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department on Monday, Feb. 20, said investigators had arrested a suspect in the killing of a prominent local Catholic bishop found dead over the weekend in his Hacienda Heights home.

The department said Sheriff Robert Luna will announce the arrest of a murder suspect at 3 p.m. Monday at the Hall of Justice in downtown Los Angeles. The press conference had been scheduled for hours earlier but was pushed back.

Auxiliary Bishop David O’Connell, a longtime local clergyman who ministered at his South L.A. church for decades, and who in recent years has been praised for his work supporting undocumented immigrants, was found dead at around 1 p.m. on Saturday at this home in the 1500 block of Janlu Avenue.

News of his death shocked members of L.A.’s Catholic community. Many described O’Connell as a “peacemaker” who attempted to heal divides in the city following the aftermath of the 1992 L.A. riots.

LA County officials, religious leaders react to death of LA Auxiliary Bishop David O’Connell

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Friends and congregants to his church said they couldn’t believe O’Connell would be targeted with violence.

The Sheriff’s Department has not yet identified the person they took into custody, or when the arrest was made.

Death of LA bishop jolts Catholics as Lenten season nears

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Staff writers Ruby Gonzales and Nathaniel Percy contributed to this report.

This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.

Source: Orange County Register