Tragedy Strikes Seneca, Kansas: Catholic Priest Father Arul Carasala Fatally Shot Outside Church Residence; Gary Hermesch, 66, Arrested on Suspicion of First-Degree Murder
A devastating incident has shaken the small community of Seneca, Kansas, with the fatal shooting of Catholic Priest Father Arul Carasala outside his residence at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church. The incident, which occurred on April 3, 2025, has left the community in shock and mourning.
*The Incident*
At approximately 3 p.m. Thursday, a 911 call was made reporting gunshots near the church. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) confirmed that when authorities arrived at the scene, they found Father Carasala, 57, lying outside the church residence with multiple gunshot wounds. Emergency medical services quickly transported Father Carasala to Nemaha Valley Community Hospital, but despite efforts to save him, he succumbed to his injuries.
*Arrest and Investigation*
Gary Hermesch, 66, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, was taken into custody on suspicion of first-degree murder following the shooting. Authorities have not yet formally charged Hermesch, as investigations into the circumstances of the shooting continue. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is leading the inquiry into the events leading up to the fatal shooting.
*Community Reaction and Tributes*
The incident has sent a wave of grief through the local community and the broader Archdiocese of Kansas City. Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of the Archdiocese of Kansas City shared his heartbreak in a statement, calling the murder a “senseless act of violence” that has left the community in mourning.
Father Carasala was originally from Cuddapah, India, and was ordained in March 1994 in his home Diocese. After his ordination, he served in various roles within the Archdiocese of Kansas City, Kansas, and had been ministering at Saints Peter and Paul for nearly 14 years.
*Legacy and Impact*
Father Carasala’s death has been especially shocking for the parish community at Saints Peter and Paul Church. The church issued a statement on its official Facebook page, expressing its disbelief and requesting privacy for the community as they process the tragedy.
The Archdiocese of Kansas City remembered Father Carasala as a man whose “deep faith, pastoral care, and generous spirit touched the lives of so many.” His lengthy service and personal impact on the community have left a lasting legacy.
*Incident Timeline*
– April 3, 2025: A fatal shooting occurs outside Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Seneca, Kansas.
– 3 p.m.: A 911 call is made reporting gunshots near the church.
– April 3, 2025: Father Arul Carasala is found lying outside the church residence with multiple gunshot wounds.
– April 3, 2025: Gary Hermesch is taken into custody on suspicion of first-degree murder.
– Ongoing: The Kansas Bureau of Investigation leads the inquiry into the events leading up to the fatal shooting.
*References*
[1] Kansas Bureau of Investigation statement and reports from the investigation.
[2] Archdiocese of Kansas City statement and tribute to Father Arul Carasala.
[3] National Catholic Reporter. (n.d.). Priest killed in Kansas shooting.
