Police in Los Angeles have arrested a 65-year-old man in connection with the murder of Bishop David O'Connell.
Carlos Medina was arrested after a six-hour stand-off with police at his home in the Torrance area of Los Angeles.
Two firearms were recovered in a search of Mr Medina’s house and have been sent for forensic testing to see if they are linked to the crime scene.
Mr Medina’s wife is the housekeeper for Bishop O’Connell and Mr Medina himself had carried out work at the bishop's residence.
The killing of Bishop O'Connell has caused deep shock and an outpouring of grief in his native Cork where locals have held vigils to remember the 69-year-old.
Prayers were offered yesterday in Cork for Bishop O'Connell and for all the good work he had undertaken both as a priest and as a bishop.
According to LA County Sheriff Robert Luna, his department received a tip-off from a member of the public who said Mr Medina had been acting strangely and claiming the bishop owed him money.
Mr Medina had fled his home by the time police arrived, but a neighbour contacted police on Sunday night to say that Mr Medina had returned.
Police went to his home at 2am and a siege ensued until Mr Medina gave himself up at 8.15am on Monday.
Sheriff Luna said details in the case are being held back in order to process the suspect and bring a case against him.
He said the bishop had been found by a deacon of the church, who had gone to the bishop’s house as he was late for a meeting. It was the deacon who called in the emergency services.
Sheriff Luna said he was not aware of any dispute involving the bishop, that allegations over a money dispute had come from one witness, and that others are being interviewed in the case.
The witnesses include Mr Medina’s wife, who is said to be cooperating with detectives. She had not been working at the bishop’s home that day.
He said there was no evidence of forced entry, but the method of entry to the home will be determined by detectives.
He said there may have been some kind of a working relationship between Mr Medina and Bishop O’Connell.
Police at the crime scene on Saturday recovered CCTV footage from a neighbouring home, which showed a compact SUV going into the bishop's driveway, a man got out and went into the bishop’s house.
The man was seen to leave a short time later.
The sheriff’s department said Mr Medina drove a similar dark compact SUV, and that vehicle had previously been seen at the bishop’s home.
Los Angeles county has ordered flags on official buildings to be flown at half-mast as a mark of respect to Bishop O’Connell.
The 69-year-old bishop, who was originally from Brooklodge near Glanmire in Co Cork, was shot dead in his home in Hacienda Heights in Los Angeles on Saturday.
Bishop O'Connell had moved to the US from Ireland 45 years ago.
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Prayers said for late bishop throughout Cork diocese
Prayers were said yesterday morning throughout the diocese of Cork and Ross for Bishop O'Connell.
He was fondly remembered at the Sacred Heart Church in Glounthaune where he served as an altar boy, and where he said his first mass following his ordination in 1979.
Co-Parish Priest Fr Damian O'Mahony told the congregation attending 10am mass that the Brooklodge native was very much in everyone's thoughts and prayers.
"A native of this parish of Glounthaune, who was baptised here in this church in 1953, so brutally killed and murdered in his home in Los Angeles, we pray for him at this time, for all the good work he has done as priest and bishop," he said.
He described Bishop O'Connell as a man who never lost touch with his Cork roots.
"Even though he was on the other side of the world, his heart was here I suppose in Cork, particularly in Glounthaune parish. A man who would have said mass in this church and in Knockraha over the years," he said.
Fr O'Mahony also offered prayers for the family and friends of Bishop O'Connell.
"We also pray for and remember his family at this time in the parish. Kieran, his brother up there in Brooklodge, and other family members and relations and friends - his many, many friends in this time of heartbreak, shock, tears, sadness and sorrow and all here in the parish who would have known him as well.
"So we pray that the Lord may welcome Bishop Dave now to that place that has been prepared for him and that heavenly home may console family, friends and loved ones.
Fr O'Mahony said that a memorial mass would be held at a later stage in the parish where his life "would be celebrated and all the good he has done in his priestly ministry in Los Angeles since he went there back in the late 70s".
