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On Saturday, February 18, a LA Bishop, David O'Connell, was fatally shot in a California suburb. His death was announced in a statement released by Archbishop José H. Gomez.
The Los Angeles Catholic official, famous for being a "community peacemaker," was found shot to death in his Hacienda Heights home on Saturday morning. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department stated that the shooting occurred in the 1500 block of Janlu Avenue.
Trigger warning: This article contains mentions of shooting. Readers' discretion is advised.
The Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles reportedly suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the upper torso and was pronounced dead at the scene. The case is under investigation as a suspicious death, and not much information regarding the motive behind the shooting or possible suspects has been released.
Sheriff's Department's Homicide Bureau Detective Michael Modica told KCAL:
"It's very early in the investigation. We got a lot more steps we have to take to make more determination to what's happening."
David O'Connell was described as a "peacemaker with a heart for the poor"
69-year-old David O'Connell, the Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, was fatally shot at his LA home on Saturday. Famously known as the "peacemaker," he served his community for four decades before he was brutally killed.
In his statement following the death of the bishop, Archbishop José H. Gomez said:
"As a priest and later a bishop here in Los Angeles for forty-five years, Bishop Dave was a man of deep prayer who had a great love for Our Blessed Mother. 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...He was also a good friend, and I will miss him greatly. I know we all will."
David O'Connell was a part of the Los Angeles Catholic community for 45 years before he became a priest and was appointed Auxiliary Bishop in 2015. He also served as the Episcopal Vicar of the San Gabriel Pastoral Region.
O'Connell was mostly involved in aiding immigrants in California. He was also the chairman of the Interdiocesan Southern California Immigration Task Force, known for extending aid to children and families who immigrated from Central America.
Janice Hahn, the Chair of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, expressed her grief over the sudden death of David O'Connell and said:
"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."
An update on Monday, February 20, confirmed that the authorities had detained a person of interest in the shooting of David O'Connell.
