Exhibit honoring assassinated Bishop David O’Connell at the Cathedral in downtown LA

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES (KABC) — An exhibit honoring the life and legacy of slain Archdiocese of Los Angeles Auxiliary Bishop David O’Connell is now open at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Angels in downtown Los Angeles.

69-year-old “Bishop Dave” — whom Archbishop Jose H. Gomez described as “a peacemaker with a heart for the poor and immigrants” — was found shot dead at his home in Hacienda Heights on February 18, as was O ‘Connell’s housekeeper was charged with murder.

The chapel features an exhibition of photographs of O’Connell’s family and ministry, a selection of his liturgical vestments such as the chasuble, miter and pectoral cross, and personal items such as handwritten notes, his Bible and rosary beads, books of jokes consulted, and a wooden plaque from his office his episcopal motto “Jesus, I trust in you”.

Gomez invited the public to visit the exhibit and celebrate the life of O’Connell, “which was truly a life lived for Jesus.”

Vice Chancellor of the Archdiocese Father Parker Sandoval, who is in charge of the chapel, said the exhibit “not only honors the life and ministry of Bishop Dave, but most importantly inspires us to follow his example of joyful witness to Jesus Christ.”

O’Connell was from Ireland and had been a priest and later a bishop in Los Angeles for 45 years.

His body was discovered when a deacon went to O’Connell’s home to check on him because O’Connell appeared to be late for a meeting, Sheriff Robert Luna said.

Carlos Medina, 61, was arrested around 8:15 a.m. on February 20 after an hour-long standoff at his home on the 2400 block of Kenwood Avenue in Torrance. Luna said two firearms were found in Medina’s home.

Medina is the husband of O’Connell’s housekeeper and has also done handyman work at the bishop’s home, authorities said. He was charged with murder, and District Attorney George Gascón said Medina confessed to the crime, although a motive was unknown.

The murder charge includes an allegation of personal use of a firearm, meaning he faces up to 35 years in state prison if convicted as charged.

At the time of his death, O’Connell was vicar of the Archdiocese of San Gabriel Pastoral Region in Los Angeles, a position he had held since 2015 when Pope Francis appointed him auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

O’Connell was previously an associate pastor at St. Raymond Catholic Church in Downey, St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church in Long Beach, and St. Hilary Church of Perpetual Andoration in Pico Rivera, and then as pastor of St. Frances X. Cabrini , Ascension, St. Eugene and St. Michael’s parishes, all in Los Angeles.

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