Charges: Oklahoma man 'intentionally, and with premeditation' killed a Kansas Catholic priest
Charges have been filed in the death of Father Arul Carasala in Seneca, Kansas
Charges have been filed in the death of Father Arul Carasala in Seneca, Kansas
Charges have been filed in the death of Father Arul Carasala in Seneca, Kansas
Charges filed in the fatal shooting of a Kansas Catholic priest say an Oklahoma man did it "intentionally, and with premeditation."
Father Arul Carasala, a longtime Catholic priest in Kansas, was fatally shot Thursday in Seneca, Kansas.
Carasala, a priest in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas and leader at Saints Peter and Paul Parish, was killed in what Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann called a “senseless act of violence.”
Police arrested 66-year-old Gary Hermesch of Tulsa, Oklahoma, at the scene.
He was booked into the Nemaha County Jail on suspicion of first-degree murder, according to the KBI.
On Friday, Hermesch was officially charged with first-degree murder in Nemaha County, Kansas.
Despite having a Tulsa address, Hermesch does have ties to Seneca and Nemaha County, according to court records. KMBC 9 found graduation records for Nemaha Valley High School listing a "Gary Hermesch" as having graduated in 1977, along with a number of yearbook photos.
Authorities have not released a motive for that shooting.
Carasala had served the archdiocese for more than 20 years.
Since 2011, he had led Saints Peter and Paul Parish in Seneca.
The local Knights of Columbus led a rosary service on Thursday night in honor of Fr. Carasala.
During the service, he was recognized for his years of service to the community.
"He is rightly called the Bishop of Nemaha, right? He knows your family better than you know your own family," said Father Joel Haug, of Sacred Heart Catholic Church. "He knows all of your relatives, he knows all of your friends."
Leaders called for the congregation to come together during this time.