Catholic L.A. bishop known as ‘peacemaker’ and man of ‘deep prayer’ shot dead at home: Police say David O’Connell’s death is ‘suspicious’ as city approaches Pope Francis Appointed in 2015 by mourns the stalwart of 45 years
- David O’Connell was found dead at his Hacienda Heights home on Saturday
- Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies found Bishop with a gunshot wound to his upper torso and are now investigating his death.
- O’Connell served with the church for 45 years, first as a priest and then as a bishop.
a Catholic bishop was shot dead in the same angel home over the weekend, in an incident police are calling ‘the suspect’.
Officers said they responded to the Hacienda Heights home of David O’Connell at around 1 a.m. Saturday, where he was found with a gunshot wound to his upper torso, and pronounced dead at the scene.
Deputies received a call that a person at the address was not breathing. San Gabriel Valley Tribune Report. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is now investigating his death as “suspicious.”
It is unclear whether a firearm was found at the scene, and authorities have not yet declared O’Connell’s death a homicide.
auxiliary bishop died earlier announced by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, who called O’Connell an ‘angel of peace’ and a ‘man of deep prayer’ who cared for all during his 45 years with the church.
Bishop David O’Connell, pictured in November 2020, was pronounced dead at his home in Los Angeles on Saturday
O’Connell was born in Ireland and was named an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles by Pope Francis in 2015.
O’Connell’s death was first announced by Jose H. Gomez, an archbishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, who called his colleague “a man of deep prayer.”
“He was a peacemaker for the poor and immigrants, and he had a passion for building a community where the sanctity and dignity of every human life is respected and protected,” Gomez said in a statement.
‘He was also a good friend and I will miss him dearly. I know we all will.
‘Please join me in praying for Bishop Dave and his family in Ireland. May Our Lady of Guadalupe wrap him in the cloak of her love, and may the angels take him to heaven, and may he rest in peace.’
Following the announcement, parishioners gathered outside O’Connell’s home, where some were seen crossing themselves as the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department continued its investigation.
Johnny Flores said, ‘It broke me and I was afraid to tell my wife, because she loved him very much.’ ABC 7.
Glendy Perez said he was ‘a humble soul’.
She said, ‘He was not the type to be confrontational with anybody.’ ‘He was very loving and loved the gift of healing.
‘When you would attend their celebrations, it was like a gift of healing.’
Prior to becoming archbishop, O’Connell served as an associate pastor in several Los Angeles parishes. He is pictured here in June 2016
People gathered outside the archbishop’s house on Saturday said he had the gift of healing. He is pictured blessing Cheryl Bertola in 2016
Parishioners gathered outside O’Connell’s home on Saturday night to pay their respects
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is now investigating his ‘suspicious’ death
O’Connell was born in Ireland in 1953 and was named an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles by Pope Francis in 2015.
He studied at All Hallows College in Dublin and was appointed to serve in the archbishopric in 1979, first as an associate chaplain in several parishes before becoming archbishop.
O’Connell also served as chair of the Interdiocesan Southern California Immigration Task Force to help coordinate the church’s response to immigrant families from Central America.