The man accused of shooting to death a beloved Catholic bishop was charged Wednesday with one count of murder.
Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón said his office also filed a special allegation that Carlos Medina used a gun to kill Auxiliary Bishop David O’Connell at the clergyman’s Hacienda Heights home. Medina faces up to 35 years to life in prison if convicted, Gascón said.
“This was a brutal act of violence against a person who’s dedicated a life to making our neighborhoods safer, healthier, and always serving with love and compassion,” he said.
Police previously said Medina was 65, but the DA's office on Wednesday placed his age at 61.
Get top local stories in Southern California delivered to you every morning. Sign up for NBC LA's News Headlines newsletter.
Medina admitted the crime to investigators, and police recovered the gun they believe he used during the slaying, according to the DA. Additionally, evidence including video placed Medina at the scene of the crime, Gascón said.
At court Wednesday, Medina through his public defender waived time for arraignment. The new date of his arraignment was set for March 22.
Sheriff's deputies were responding to a medical emergency call Feb. 18 when they found O’Connell, who appeared to have been shot in the upper torso. Luna said that a deacon had gone looking for O'Connell after he missed a scheduled meeting. That deacon found him and called 911.
Gascón said O'Connell sustained multiple gunshots.
There was no sign of forced entry at the Los Angeles Archdiocese-owned home. Gascón said Medina, who was the husband of O'Connell's housekeeper and had previously done work at the residence, may have used a key or other means to get in.
Investigators zeroed in on Medina after a tipster called to report that he was acting "strange" and had made comments about O'Connell owing him money following the bishop's death, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said.
Michael Modica, a lieutenant with the sheriff's department, said Wednesday that Medina provided various reasons for the slaying, none of which "made any sense" to investigators. As such, detectives "don't believe there's any validity to the owing of money," Modica said.
Investigators have not yet established a possible motive.
Police arrested Medina Monday after an hourslong standoff at his Torrance home. A search warrant yielded two guns and other evidence possibly linking him to O’Connell’s slaying, Luna said.
O’Connell was born in County Cork, Ireland in 1953 and was named an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles by Pope Francis in 2015, according to the Los Angeles Archdiocese. He served as a priest and bishop in LA County for more than 45 years.
"He was committed to those who are most vulnerable in our community. He worked with the immigrant community. He worked with communities that were impacted by gang violence. And he selflessly gave his life to this community and to the work," Gascón said. "His loss is one that I think will be felt deeply for years to come.”
Since his death, community members and public officials have paid tribute to O’Connell, whom they recalled as compassionate, especially to immigrants and other marginalized people.
"Every day he worked to show compassion to the poor, to the homeless, to the immigrant and to all those living on society’s margins. He was a good priest, a good bishop and a man of peace, and we are very sad to lose him," Los Angeles Archbishop José Gomez said.
