Authorities have charged a man suspected to have fatally shot Bishop David O’Connell
61 year old Carlos Medina whose wife works for the Bishop has been charged with murder. The suspect is being held with a bail set at $2 million.
Bishop O’Connell’s remains was recovered Saturday afternoon at his Hacienda Heights residence. Hacienda Heights is about 20 miles east of LA.
At a Wednesday press conference, Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon called the murder a brutal act of violence. This is coming against a gentleman who spent his life making our neighborhoods safer and always serving with love.
Police are still investigating the motive behind the murder of the 69 year old. O’Connell was recognized for his kindness and advocacy for immigrants, the homeless, and others in need in Los Angeles.
Sheriff Robert Luna said Medina was acting oddly and claimed the bishop owed him money. Authorities saw a surveillance footage which shows a vehicle matching the type Medina drives pull into the bishop’s home. Moments later, it can be seen zooming off.
The sheriff’s office said the motive for O’Connell’s death’s is still unknown right now.
“When (Medina) was being looked into, he provided detectives multiple disjointed reasons for the murder”. This has made us doubt the debt claim.
Luna stated Medina worked at the bishop’s residence and married the housekeeper. Luna stated Medina cleaned the bishop’s residence too.
Medina was arrested Monday at his Torrance home after an hour long standoff. Torrance is 35 miles from Hacienda Heights.
The sheriff reported Monday that investigators uncovered two weapons and “additional evidence that might link Medina to the crime.” Luna said the firearms would be investigated to discover if they killed the bishop.
