Indian American Pastor, a Native of Cuddapah in Andhra Pradesh, Shot Dead in Seneca, Kansas
- Rev. Raj “Arul” Balaswamy Carasala, 57, of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church was found with gunshot wounds by state troopers on April 3.
An Indian American pastor from Kansas was fatally shot outside his parish rectory in Seneca last week. Rev. Raj “Arul” Balaswamy Carasala, 57, the pastor of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church, was found with gunshot wounds by state troopers on April 3, according to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. He was brought to a hospital where he died from his injuries.
Carasala was shot by Gary L. Hermesch, 66, who was arrested a day after the shooting. He was charged with first-degree murder. Citing court documents, local Kansas City newspapers said “the shooting was intentional and premeditated.” Hermesch is currently held in the Nemaha County Jail on a $1 million bond. His preliminary hearing is set for April 15.
Nemaha County Attorney Brad Lippert stated in a press release on April 4 that Hermesch “intentionally and with premeditation killed Arul Carasala,” KMBC News reported. However, Lippert “did not say what the relationship between Carasala and Hermesch was or if the two knew each other, “the news channel added.
Carasala grew up in Cuddapah in Andhra Pradesh, and was ordained there in 1994. He belonged to the archdiocese for more than 20 years and was the dean of the organization’s Nemaha-Marshall region. He is survived by a sister who lives in India, according to KMBC News. She was scheduled to fly in to attend Carasala’s funeral.
Cyril Steinlage, parishioner at St. Peter and Paul’s Catholic Church, told KMBC News that Carasla was “ready with a smile and open doors, and was “very giving.” He said that Carasala helped people who were in trouble or needed some help. “They go to Father and he would give them whatever he could … One of his favorite songs was ‘All Are Welcome’ in church. ‘All Are Welcome,’ it was the song that he says says it all. You’re all welcome.”
