Indian-Origin Priest Fatally Shot in Kansas Parish; 66-Year-Old Suspect Arrested

An Indian-origin Catholic priest was fatally shot by a man in Seneca, a town in the U.S. state of Kansas, on Thursday. The suspect approached the priest at his parish rectory, according to a report by the Associated Press citing church officials.

According to the website of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Fr. Arul Carasala was ordained as a priest in 1994 in India.

Archbishop Joseph Naumann of the Archdiocese of Kansas City confirmed the news in a Facebook post, writing, "I am heartbroken to share the tragic news of the death of Fr. Arul Carasala, who was fatally shot earlier today. This senseless act of violence has left us grieving the loss of a beloved priest, leader, and friend."

The church website also notes that Fr. Carasala became the pastor of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church on July 11, 2011. He had been serving as a priest in Kansas since 2004 after being invited by an archbishop to visit and potentially serve in the Archdiocese. He obtained U.S. citizenship in 2011, according to the Associated Press.

Kris Anderson, the parish's director of religious education, told AP that an elderly man approached Fr. Carasala and shot him three times. However, she said she did not know the identity of the shooter or the motive behind the attack.

Suspect Arrested

As reported by Kansas-based outlet KNBC News, the police have arrested a suspect identified as 66-year-old Gary L. Hermesch of Tulsa, Oklahoma. He is currently in custody on suspicion of first-degree murder, according to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.

Fr. Carasala was originally from Kadapah in Andhra Pradesh, Archbishop Naumann noted in his post, adding that there is no ongoing threat to the community.

"Fr. Carasala was a devoted and zealous pastor who faithfully served our Archdiocese for over twenty years, including as dean of the Nemaha-Marshall region. His love for Christ and His Church was evident in how he ministered to his people with great generosity and care. His parishioners, friends, and brother priests will deeply miss him," Archbishop Naumann wrote.