Archbishop David O’Connell, 69, had a bullet in his chest when he was found by police at a home in Hacienda Heights. Archbishop Gomez announces that the county sheriff has confirmed the murder of the prelate: “He was a man of peace with a heart for the poor and for immigrants. He wanted all human life to be honored and protected.”
Salvatore Cernuzio Vatican City
He has been known in the Church in the United States for years for his strong commitment to immigrants, the poor, and victims of gun violence. Los Angeles Auxiliary Bishop David O’Connell, 69, was found dead of gunshot wounds in the past few hours. The investigations of the district police assume a homicide. Further details have not yet been released.
Confirmation of Archbishop Gomez
The news was confirmed by Archbishop José Horacio Gomez, Archbishop of Los Angeles, the Archdiocese, that O’Connell, an Irishman from Cork, has served for the past 45 years as a priest and as an Auxiliary Bishop, appointed by Pope Francis in 2015.
“This morning we received word from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office that it has been confirmed that the death of Auxiliary Bishop David O’Connell yesterday was a homicide. We are deeply shocked and saddened by this news. We continue to pray for Bishop Dave and his family. Family. And we pray for law enforcement as they continue their investigation into this horrific crime. We ask our Blessed Mother Mary to intercede and be a mother for all of us at this time of sadness and pain.”
ongoing investigations
The bishop was found dead around 1 a.m. at a home in the suburb of Hacienda Heights, 30 kilometers east of downtown Los Angeles. He was hit in the chest by a bullet. County police responded to an 911 call and, according to a statement released hours later by the sheriff’s office, an investigation was launched into the “gun death” of an adult male, whose death was confirmed at the scene. That means the house is on a residential street with cottage style houses. Some US media say O’Connell may have ended up in the middle of a shooting. There is currently no confirmation of this, nor have authorities provided details of a possible suspect or motive for the murder.
Condolences from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles
Archbishop Gomez intervened earlier this morning with a statement on the Archdiocese’s official website, Angelus News. “I am very sad to announce this afternoon that our beloved Auxiliary Bishop David O’Connell passed away unexpectedly,” said the Prelate. “It is a shock and I have no words to express my sadness,” he added, describing “Bishop Dave” as “a good friend” and “a man of deep prayer who had a great love for our mother.” O’Connell “was a man of peace with a heart for the poor and immigrants, and he was passionate about building a community where the sanctity and dignity of every human life is honored and protected,” Gomez added. He then asked for prayers for the bishop’s soul, which he entrusted to the Virgin of Guadalupe, and for his family in Ireland. Meanwhile, several believers gathered at the place of death to light candles and pray the rosary.