Los Angeles police arrest suspect in fatal shooting of Catholic bishop – reports

Los Angeles police have arrested a suspect in the killing of the prominent local Catholic bishop David O’Connell, who was fatally shot on Saturday, according to multiple reports.

The 69-year-old O’Connell, who served in the Los Angeles archdiocese, was found shot dead inside his home in Hacienda Heights at about 1pm on 18 February.

Officials didn’t immediately release any details about the arrest of the suspect in O’Connell’s slaying. But the Los Angeles county sheriff’s department was planning to hold a news press conference on Monday afternoon to elaborate on the arrest.

Mourners gathered outside O’Connell’s home over the weekend, laying candles and flowers at the intersection in front of his home.

O’Connell was a native of Ireland who advocated for immigrant and disadvantaged communities during his time in Los Angeles, where he was ordained a priest in 1979.

Parishioners and advocates also expressed their condolences. The archbishop of Los Angeles, José H Gomez, said O’Connell had “a passion for building a community where the sanctity and dignity of every human life was honored and protected”.

The former mayor of Los Angeles, Eric Garcetti, also described O’Connell as a “longtime peacemaker and fighter for justice” in a tweet on Sunday. “This city has lost one of its most beautiful angels,” he added.

O’Connell studied at All Hallows College in Dublin and later moved to Los Angeles. He served as a pastor at several parishes in Los Angeles before Pope Francis appointed him the city’s auxiliary bishop on 21 June 2015.

He also served as chair of the Southern California Immigration Task Force, which lobbies for immigration reform.

O’Connell was killed just blocks from St John Vianney Catholic church. Authorities have not said whether the bishop was targeted in the killing.

The Associated Press contributed reporting.