The Mercury News

What's known about suspect accused of killing bishop

Man is husband of housekeepe­r to the church leader

- By Clara Harter

Carlos Medina, the man arrested in the slaying of L.A. Archdioces­e Bishop David O'Connell, has been identified as the husband of the bishop's housekeepe­r.

Medina surrendere­d at about 9 a.m. Monday after a standoff with Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies outside his home near Torrance. Medina is suspected of shooting O'Connell in the bedroom of the bishop's home in Hacienda Heights about 1 p.m. on Saturday.

Medina's arrest brings some measure of relief to a shocked and shaken community. But many questions, including that of a suspected motive, remain unanswered.

Here's what is known about the suspect:

• Medina's wife is a devout Catholic who had worked as the bishop's housekeepe­r for several years, neighbor Luis Lopez said. Authoritie­s did not release her name. The bishop lived in a modest Hacienda Heights dwelling owned by the Archdioces­e of Los Angeles.

• The wife would often take care of the bishop's small white dog at her residence in unincorpor­ated West Carson, the neighbor said.

• Medina himself previously worked at the home of the bishop, Sheriff Robert Luna said. The sheriff said the suspect is 65, although jail records for a Carlos Medina say he is 61.

• The tipster who alerted the sheriff's department to Medina said that after the shooting, Medina made some irrational comments and claimed the bishop owed him money.

• The couple had a tenant living in a back unit of their home. The tenant emerged when police arrived about midnight, Lopez said, but the wife and Medina did not appear to be home.

• Medina arrived home about 2 a.m., the sheriff said and barricaded himself in the house. He surrendere­d at 9 a.m.

• Medina owned at least two firearms, which were recovered by the Los Angeles

Sheriff's Department on Monday. The make and caliber of the guns were not released.

• He also owned a navyblue Honda SUV that was towed from his house about 10:50 a.m. on Monday. Surveillan­ce footage showed a dark compact SUV pulling into the bishop's driveway in Hacienda Heights before he was later found dead.

• Neighbor Marty Hernandez said Medina “always seemed like an odd person.” He was often up late and had a lot of “weird stuff around his pad.” Medina's front yard was cluttered with an assortment of items and junk, including pipes, bikes, buckets, tools, wires and potted plants.

• Neighbor Luis Lopez said Medina had quirks, but for the most part seemed like “a good man, your average older man, always talkative.”

• Medina had lived in the 20400 block of Kenwood Avenue for about five years,

 ?? DAMIAN DOVARGANES — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ?? An image of Bishop David O'Connell is posted on the post of a street sign near his home in Hacienda Heights on Sunday. O'Connell was shot and killed Saturday. Carlos Medina, the husband of O'Connell's housekeepe­r, has been accused of shooting O'Connell to death.
DAMIAN DOVARGANES — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS An image of Bishop David O'Connell is posted on the post of a street sign near his home in Hacienda Heights on Sunday. O'Connell was shot and killed Saturday. Carlos Medina, the husband of O'Connell's housekeepe­r, has been accused of shooting O'Connell to death.

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