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 noon Monday at the Hall of Justice in downtown Los Angeles.
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
Friends and congregants to his church said they couldn’t believe O’Connell would himself be targeted with violence.
The Sheriff’s Department has not yet identified the person they took in to custody, or when the arrest was made.
Staff writer Ruby Gonzales contributed to this report.
This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
