KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- The Archbishop of Kansas City in Kansas is sharing the shock and grief of his flock after the tragic shooting death of Northeast Kansas priest, Father Arul Carasala. "He was very beloved by people, and it’s a loss to our brother priest," Archbishop Joseph Naumann said, refl ecting on the devastating loss. SAVE KC initiative is working even though homicide rate is up: Officials Carasala was gunned down outside his home in Seneca, Kansas on Thursday afternoon. Prosecutors have charged 66-year-old Gary Hermesch of Tulsa, Oklahoma with first-degree murder in the shooting death of Carasala. Hermesch, a former parishioner at this parish, is believed to have had a history with the church, though Naumann clarified that Carasala was not the priest when Hermesch attended the parish. In an emotional tribute, Naumann described Carasala as a “gentle person” who was not only intelligent but also motivational. “He was a strong leader, he was able to motivate people to do beautiful things,” Naumann shared, highlighting Carasala’s impact. Carasala was deeply respected by both his parishioners and fellow clergy. FOX4 Newsletters: Sign up for daily forecasts and Joe's Weather Blog in your inbox Naumann emphasized that Carasala was the kind of priest everyone would want, someone dedicated to his community and faith. In fact, just before his tragic death, Carasala had launched a new project—a thrift store in Seneca to serve the local poor. “It’s very devastating, particularly to the people of his parish. He was pastor there for more than 10 years,” Naumann said. The shooting took place outside of Carasala’s residence in Seneca, where Hermesch is suspected of opening fire. The archbishop revealed that Hermesch had attended the same parish, adding a personal history to the case. While it’s clear that Hermesch had anger towards the church, Naumann said, “I’m told he had anger against the church, but I’m not sure what the source of that anger was.” In the midst of this heartbreak, Naumann is offering reassurance to the grieving community. “We live in a sin-fractured world, and so we know Jesus tells us he does not promise easy. He doesn’t say, ‘Follow me, and you’ll never have any trouble or problems.’ It’s part of life in this world, but what Jesus does promise is we’ll never be alone,” Naumann said. Download the FOX4 News app on iPhone and Android This weekend, the archbishop will travel to Seneca, to lead all four services at the church where Carasala served. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is leading the ongoing investigation. FOX4 has reached out for further details and will continue to stay on top of this story as it develops. ...read more read less