Los Angeles mourns ‘shooting death’ of Auxiliary Bishop O’Connell
By Devin Watkins
Bishop David O’Connell, an auxiliary bishop of Los Angeles, was found dead due to a gunshot wound in the suburb of Hacienda Heights on Saturday afternoon.
His body was discovered around 1 PM local time, and he was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Los Angeles Times.
In a statement, the LA Sheriff’s Department announced an investigation into the shooting death of an adult male, without naming Bishop O’Connell.
No details related to a possible suspect or motive were released.
‘Heart for the poor and immigrants
Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles released a statement on Saturday, expressing his shock and sadness that “Auxiliary Bishop David O’Connell has passed away unexpectedly.”
Archbishop Gomez also recalled 69-year-old Bishop O’Connell as a “good friend” whom he will miss greatly.
“As a priest and later a bishop here in Los Angeles for forty-five years, Bishop Dave was a man of deep prayer who had a great love for Our Blessed Mother,” said the Archbishop.
He encouraged everyone to pray for the late bishop and “for his family in Ireland.”
“May Our Lady of Guadalupe wrap him in the mantle of her love, and may the angels lead him into paradise, and may he rest in peace,” concluded Archbishop Gomez.
Irish priest in American diocese
The late Bishop O’Connell was born in Cork, Ireland, on 16 August 1953.
He studied theology at All Hallows College in Dublin, and was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles on 10 June 1979.
Pope Francis appointed him Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles on 21 June 2015.
Following his death, mourners held candles and prayed the Rosary near the site of his death.
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