Carlos Medina, suspected of killing LA Bishop David O’Connell, claims priest owed him money: Sheriff

A suspect in the murder of Catholic Bishop David O’Connell claimed the priest owed him money and acted “irrationally” during the shocking murder, authorities said.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said at a news conference Monday that handyman Carlos Medina, 65, shot the bishop on Saturday at his home in Hacienda Heights.

Medina was arrested by authorities after he initially refused to leave his home in Torrance earlier Monday, Luna said. The whistleblower told authorities that Medina left Los Angeles County after the murder, but early Monday morning, a community member contacted the sheriff’s office around 2 a.m. to inform them that Medina had returned to the house, leading to an arrest.

According to Luna, the alleged killer’s wife was O’Connell’s housekeeper, and Medina also occasionally did housework for the slain bishop.

“The informant told detectives that they were concerned that Medina was acting weird, irrational and making remarks about the bishop owing him money,” Luna said.

But Luna cautioned that it’s not clear if the motive for the murder was related to a specific cash dispute, and that it was just a tip received by the authorities.

“I’m not sure about any dispute,” Luna said. “That’s what one of the witnesses said, but as you all know, our investigation is ongoing, which means interviewing several witnesses to find out and get a better picture of what happened here.”

A neighbor who lives outside Medina told The Post that the suspect was looking for ways to make money despite being retired. Local resident Luis Lopez also said Medina told him that the rent at the house where he and his wife lived had been increasing since March.

According to Lopez, the couple lived with a roommate. No one answered the door when a reporter from The Post knocked on their door Monday night.

“I couldn’t believe it myself,” Lopez said when he heard about the allegations against Medina. “He looks harmless. He and his wife, they’re just an old couple.”

According to Luna, the bishop was pronounced dead in the bedroom of his home with at least one gunshot wound to his upper body.

According to Luna, O’Connell’s body was discovered after a deacon came to the victim’s home to check on him because he was late for a meeting. After the deacon called 911, investigators responded.

According to Luna, the suspect’s wife was not working on the day of the murder, and investigators said she was cooperating with them.

Medina’s neighbors told The Post that Medina’s wife has been working with the bishop for over a decade.

Luna added that the car seen in O’Connell’s driveway in CCTV footage on the same day of the murder was similar to the SUV that Medina had driven to O’Connell’s in the past. Luna said that there didn’t seem to be any signs of forced entry in the house.

After his arrest, Luna said two guns and other evidence were collected that could possibly link Medina to the horrific crime. He added that the weapon would be tested to determine if it was a murder weapon.

“I can’t tell you how many phone calls I have received in the last 48 hours from people who have worked with him in various positions, and this person, this bishop, has had a huge impact on our community,” Luna said. “He was loved.”

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