LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA — Auxiliary Bishop David O’Connell, a long-serving Catholic bishop, was found dead with a gunshot wound to his upper torso in a home in the unincorporated neighborhood of Hacienda Heights in Los Angeles, according to multiple reports.
The 69-year-old had been a priest and bishop for 45 years, and had been known for his dedication to the church and the community, according to ABC News.
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s investigators received a medical emergency call and found O’Connell unresponsive and bleeding from a gunshot wound.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
No arrests were made at the time of the report, and detectives are working to piece together the circumstances surrounding the homicide.
Archbishop of Los Angeles, José H. Gomez, expressed his grief at O’Connell’s unexpected death, describing him as “a man of deep prayer” and “a peacemaker with a heart for the poor and the immigrant.”
O’Connell’s parishioners expressed their sadness and shock at the news, with some visiting the crime scene to offer prayers.
The investigation into O’Connell’s murder is ongoing, with the identity of the killer yet to be determined.
The community is mourning the loss of a beloved bishop who had dedicated his life to serving the church and building a community where the dignity of every human life was honored and protected.