Overview

• Father Arul Carasala, 57, was shot three times outside the Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church rectory in Seneca, Kansas, on April 3, 2025, and later died at a local hospital.
• Gary L. Hermesch, 66, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder; he is being held on a $1 million bond.
• Authorities have not disclosed a motive for the shooting or any prior connection between the suspect and Father Carasala, with investigations ongoing.
• Father Carasala, originally from India, had served the Kansas Catholic community since 2004 and became a U.S. citizen in 2011, earning widespread admiration for his pastoral care and dedication.
• Community and church leaders, including Archbishop Joseph Naumann, have expressed profound grief over the loss, emphasizing there is no ongoing threat to the public.