Kansas Catholic priest was shot 'intentionally and with premeditation,' prosecutor alleges

The execution of a Kansas Catholic clergyman astatine his church’s rectory was carried retired "intentionally and with premeditation," a authoritative said. 

Gary Hermesch, 66, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, remains successful custody Monday astatine the Nemaha County Jail following the shooting decease of Father Arul Carasala past week. The 57-year-old was recovered "suffering from gunshot wounds" Thursday erstwhile constabulary responded to a 911 telephone astatine the Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church successful Seneca, and aboriginal died astatine a section hospital, according to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI). 

A charging ailment alleged Hermesch – who is facing 1 number of first-degree execution and is being held connected a $1 cardinal enslaved – "intentionally and with premeditation" killed Carasala, The Associated Press cited Nemaha County Attorney Brad Lippert arsenic saying. 

Lipper did not instantly respond Monday to a petition for remark from Fox News Digital.

KANSAS CATHOLIC PRIEST DIES AFTER BEING SHOT AT HIS CHURCH’S RECTORY, LEAVING PARISH IN ‘STATE OF SHOCK’ 

Father Arul Carasala, a pastor astatine Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church successful Seneca, Kansas, was fatally changeable connected Thursday, April 3, 2025. (AP/The Leaven)

Kris Anderson, the parish’s manager of spiritual education, told the AP past week, "From what we know, an older antheral walked up to him [Carasala] and changeable him 3 times." 

In an interrogation with Fox News Digital, Father Brian Schieber, a vicar wide for the Archdiocese of Kansas City successful Kansas, said, "We're each conscionable inactive successful a authorities of shock. 

"I mean, this is small-town America. And Father Arul was specified a beloved pastor successful Seneca, Kansas. He's been a pastor determination for implicit 13 years," Schieber said past week. 

"A bully shepherd knows his radical by name, and Father Arul knew everybody. He, implicit these years, baptized truthful galore people, did truthful galore weddings, funerals, helium was specified a bully confessor and contiguous to radical who were sick, had specified pastoral wisdom, helium is truly beloved by everybody," Schieber added. 

EXPERTS REVEAL DETAILS ABOUT A 16TH-CENTURY CATHOLIC SAINT FOUND ‘PERFECTLY PRESERVED’   

Gary Hermesch was taken into custody successful transportation to the shooting of Father Arul Carasala. (Nemaha County Sheriff's Office)

Schieber described the shooting arsenic a "senseless enactment of violence." 

"We person nary thought what the motive for this was. And, you know, we're truly praying for the idiosyncratic that killed Father Arul arsenic well. And convey you each for your prayers," helium said. 

Deputies from the Nemaha County Sheriff’s Office and officers from the Seneca Police Department responded to a 911 telephone "reporting shots fired astatine the Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church rectory" astir 3 p.m. section clip Thursday, the KBI said.  

When they arrived, they discovered Carasala "outside the residence suffering from gunshot wounds," it added. 

Archbishop Joseph Naumann leads a wide connected Thursday, April 3, astatine the Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church successful Seneca pursuing the decease of Father Arul Carasala. (Jay Soldner/The Leaven)

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"Seneca EMS arrived and transported Father Carasala to the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital. Despite life-saving measures, helium died astatine the infirmary from his injuries," the KBI besides said successful a statement.