An Oklahoma man is currently in custody on suspicion of killing a Catholic priest at a church rectory in Seneca, Kansas. Officials reported that the incident took place at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church on Thursday afternoon.
Law enforcement officers arrived at the scene to find Father Arul Carasala, aged 57, suffering from gunshot wounds outside the rectory. Despite being quickly transported to a nearby hospital, he succumbed to his injuries.
Authorities arrested Gary Hermesch, a 66-year-old from Tulsa, Oklahoma, who is now being held at the Nemaha County Jail on charges of first-degree murder. Details surrounding the motive for the shooting remain unclear, and it’s unknown whether the suspect had any prior connection to the priest.
Kris Anderson, the parish’s religious education director, expressed her sorrow, indicating that Father Carasala had been shot multiple times by an older man. The community was left reeling from the shocking news, as Father Carasala had served as the pastor at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church since 2011. Originally from India, he became a U.S. citizen in 2011 after being ordained in 1994 and had been serving in Kansas since 2004.
Archbishop Joseph Naumann of the Archdiocese of Kansas City addressed the community’s pain, acknowledging the tragic loss and emphasizing that there was no ongoing threat to residents. He described Father Carasala as a cherished priest and community leader whose death has left many grieving. Seneca, where these events unfolded, is a small city situated roughly 60 miles from Topeka and 90 miles from Kansas City.
