A suspect arrested in last week 's deadly shooting at a Catholic church admitted `` involvement in the crime '' while in custody , Phoenix Police Chief Daniel V. Garcia said Monday . One priest died in the shooting and another was seriously wounded . The suspect , Gary Michael Moran , was identified through DNA evidence recovered both at the crime scene and from a car stolen from the church , Garcia said at a news conference . Witnesses also came forth with information , he added . Moran , 54 , was arrested late Sunday at a halfway house , Garcia said . He described the suspect as a former felon with a history of violent offenses -- including aggravated assault and burglary -- who was released from prison on April 24 . Since then , Moran had been `` living primarily in the streets and homeless shelters , '' Garcia said . In announcing the arrest , the police chief said once the suspect was in custody , Moran `` made admissions to his involvement in the crime '' before invoking his rights . In the shooting late Wednesday at Mater Misericordiae ( Mother of Mercy ) Mission Catholic Church , the Rev . Kenneth Walker was fatally shot and the Rev . Joseph Terra was wounded . Garcia called the attack on the two men a `` senseless act of violence '' and a `` vicious , tragic , horrifying '' offense . `` The city of Phoenix -- waking up to this horrific crime -- felt an urgency to bring this violent , felony offender to justice . It was something we felt committed to . '' said Garcia . Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton echoed this sentiment calling the crime , `` as senseless as it is tragic . '' Police said they believed it was a crime of opportunity -- a burglary that went bad . At around 9 p.m. Wednesday , Terra made a 911 call reporting a burglary at the church . According to Garcia , an intruder was discovered first by the 56-year-old Terra and the intruder allegedly attacked him with a metal rod . The suspect also reportedly managed to get a gun that belonged to the priest away from him and use it against him . When Walker , 29 , emerged from his room -- after hearing noises -- the suspect also allegedly shot him with the gun , Garcia said . When officers arrived , they found both priests badly wounded . Terra was able to speak briefly with the officers before being taken for treatment . Walker died on his way to the hospital , according to police . A funeral Mass was held Monday for Walker . The service was attended by the police chief , the mayor and a local city councilman , Michael Nowakowski , as well as Walker 's parishioners and members of the community . At the news conference , the mayor noted that although Walker had not been in Phoenix `` for a long period time , he had already made a lasting impact . His devotion to his church and those in his congregation meant a great deal to many of all faiths across this city . '' Nowakowski spoke , saying he believed the priest would want his community to reach out and find ways to help those newly out of prison -- like Moran . `` If Father Walker were here today , he would probably say , `` We need to help and pray for those individuals who are released from jail ... we need to help those individuals change their heart and rehabilitate them . We as a society need to figure out a way to help those men and women who are released from jail go into a transition of hope -- not hopelessness -- and change their ways , somehow , someway . ' '' Terra was moved out of intensive care over the weekend and is expected to make a full recovery , according to CNN affiliate KPHO .
Suspect is former felon , recent parolee , says police chief . Comment: