Explosion kills 3 LASD deputies in East LA; Santa Monica investigation possibly tied to blast
The three deputies who were killed responded to a Santa Monica apartment Thursday where a resident reportedly found grenades.
EAST LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Three members of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Arson/Explosives Detail were killed Friday morning in an explosion at a training facility in East Los Angeles, authorities said.
A separate investigation is underway in Santa Monica at a scene the three deputies reportedly responded to on Thursday.
Three deputies killed in deadly explosion at East L.A. training facility Friday morning
The incident, which was believed to be an accident, was reported around 7:30 a.m. at the Biscailuz Training Facility in the 1000 block of North Eastern Avenue, LASD said. The compound houses the sheriff's department's special enforcement units and bomb squad.
Multiple law enforcement sources briefed on the investigation told ABC News that it appears the explosive the depurites were handling had been brought back to the facility from a seemingly routine bomb squad callout and was believed to have been inert when it exploded.
MORE: Dispatch audio sheds light on moments after deadly explosion
They were identified as Deputy Joshua Kelley-Eklund, Deputy Victor Lemus, and Deputy William Osborn, who were all assigned to the Special Enforcement Bureau's Arson Explosives Detail.
L.A. County Sheriff Robert Luna says the specialized explosives unit responds to about 1,100 calls a year, but it's unclear what went wrong on Friday morning.
"There are no words to express the pain and sorrow we feel," Luna said. "These heroes represented the best of our Department, exemplifying courage, integrity, and selfless service. This is not only a heartbreaking loss for their families, but for all of us."
Between the three of them, the deceased employees had served in the department for 74 years, according to Luna.
Luna said the catastrophe marked LASD's worst loss of life in a single incident since 1857.
A memorial plaque in Irvine marks the spot where two deputies and two constables -- as they were then known at the time -- were shot and killed in 1857. They were pursuing a gang of notorious outlaws when they were ambushed. The county sheriff at the time, James Barton, was among the four killed.
The deputies who were killed Friday also worked at the Board of Supervisors. No one else was injured in the explosion.
"I have met with two of the three families thus far, and as you can imagine, those were extremely challenging conversations," Luna said earlier Friday, choking back tears.
Luna said the cause of the disaster was unknown, adding that the devices involved were rendered safe by responding members of the Los Angeles Police Department's bomb squad.
The sheriff said the situation was critical for some time, and it took hours to make the area safe.
"They immediately came out to assist after this explosion occurred, to render the devices safe," Luna said.
A somber procession guided the bodies of the three deputies killed from the scene of the explosion to the medical examiner's office on Friday evening. Hundreds of law enforcement officers and community members lined the streets and paid their respects.
It's only a 15-minute drive away, but every mile and every minute was meaningful as deputies and other first responders lined the streets to pay their respects.
Three medical examiner's office vans delivered the American flag-wrapped caskets, with the families of the fallen deputies wiping tears as they waited.
The sheriff's department is offering peer support services, as well as chaplain assistance to staff members and the families of the fallen deputies.
The FBI and ATF are among the agencies investigating the deadly blast.
Explosives found at Santa Monica apartment building Thursday may be tied to deadly blast
Several law enforcement agencies spent hours on Friday carefully searching a Santa Monica apartment building in the 800 block of Bay Street, where the device that exploded on Friday may have originally come from.
Investigators say the three deputies killed helped Santa Monica police with a bomb squad call on Thursday.
The FBI, ATF, LAPD bomb technicians, and sheriff's detectives were working to determine if devices found in the building are tied to the tragic explosion.
"The bomb squad went into the parking garage and recovered several grenades, and we didn't have to evacuate," resident Michael Kellman told Eyewitness News. "And then today, around 2 o'clock, a lot of officers showed up again."
This time, investigators ordered residents to evacuate as they searched a storage locker and at least one apartment unit.
"The only thing I remember from yesterday was getting this weird email from our HOA president saying that inert grenades had been found in the garage," resident Ivan Perkins said.
The HOA president told a resident that a former tenant who had been in the military may have left the explosive devices behind, and a current resident discovered them in her storage locker on Thursday.
"The woman who has lived there for years now had never seen them before, and that they kind of fell as she went in to look for something," Kellman said.
Numerous law enforcement officers were seen going in and out of the garage for hours.
Residents were allowed to return home later Friday evening.
The department did not immediately say the Santa Monica search is necessarily tied to the deadly explosion, but it is part of the investigation. Officials said it is not yet determined if the devices found at the Santa Monica apartment complex have any correlation to the explosion.
The sheriff's department issued the following statement:
"On Thursday our Arson Explosives Detail personnel who were involved in today's fatal incident responded to the 800 block of Bay Street in Santa Monica for a call for service to assist Santa Monica PD. Homicide Detectives are in the process of obtaining a search warrant for the location and out of the abundance of caution the LAPD Bomb Squad, ATF and FBI will search the location for any potential explosive materials. At this time, it is not determined if the devices found yesterday have any correlation to today's critical incident.
Santa Monica PD is assisting the Sheriff's Department in this incident and have evacuated the residents in the complex. They are in the process of locating a shelter for displaced residents."
What we know about the three deputies killed in the blast
According to a social media post from LASD, Detective Kelley-Eklund joined the department in March 2006. He was known as an outstanding field training officer who was professional and articulate. He became an Arson and Explosive Investigator with the Special Enforcement Bureau and received his bomb tech certifications as well as other training accolades in 2022. He's survived by his loving wife, Jessica Eklund, and their 7 children.
Detective Victor Lemus joined the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department in 2003. He transferred to the Special Enforcement Bureau in 2017, where he was assigned as a K-9 Handler prior to becoming an Arson and Explosive Investigator last year, according to LASD. He received commendations for his ability to mentor and train fellow deputies as well as notable arrests involving career criminals. He's survived by his wife, Sheriff's Department Detective Nancy Lemus, and three daughters. He has three sisters who are also on the Department, Sergeant Belen Lemus at Special Victims Bureau, Deputy Perla Lemus at Century Sheriff Station, and Custody Assistant Wendy Lemus of Population and Management Bureau. He is also survived by his brothers Alfredo, Pedro, Juan, and Efren and brother-in-law Sergeant Robert Catalan who is assigned to Carson Station.
Detective William Osborn graduated from the deputy sheriff Academy Class 278 in February 1992. He joined Special Enforcement Bureau as an Arson and Explosive Investigator in 2019. As an Arson investigator, he handled cases involving high-dollar loss fires in residential properties, as well as fires involving the loss of life, LASD said. He was a peer leader and took on the role of mentoring newly assigned investigators. He was described as "one of tenured bomb technicians regularly relied upon when faced with a new challenge. He has broad range of experience and could be relied upon to provide relevant insight on broad range of subjects."
Response from elected officials
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass confirmed that the LAPD bomb squad responded to the scene and is assisting with the incident, along with LASD homicide detectives.
Gov. Gavin Newsom's Office said the governor has been briefed on the apparent explosion and that the Governor's Office of Emergency Services is in contact with LASD while closely monitoring the situation.
L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger issued the following statement regarding the deadly incident:
"I am heartbroken to hear of the terrible tragedy that has unfolded today at an L.A. County Sheriff's Department facility. I am closely tracking the situation as we learn more about what occurred and the condition of those affected. My heart is heavy, and my thoughts are with the brave men and women of the Sheriff's Department during this difficult time. We stand with them and their families as they navigate the hours and days ahead."
L.A. County Supervisor Hilda Solis also issued a statement:
"I am deeply saddened by the tragic incident that occurred this morning at the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Biscailuz Training Academy in East Los Angeles. My heart goes out to the families, friends, and colleagues of the three individuals who lost their lives in what appears to have been a devastating explosion. I am in contact with Sheriff Robert Luna and closely monitoring the situation as we await further details. My thoughts are with all those grieving and the first responders who are on the scene."
In her statement, L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn said:
"This is an extraordinarily painful day for our Sheriff's Department and for LA County. My prayers are with the families of the deputies and their colleagues in law enforcement who are reeling from this tragedy. I am offering my full support to our Sheriff Robert Luna and his department as they not only work to support our deputies but to investigate what went so wrong. We need to get to the bottom of what happened and make sure that it never happens again."
The FBI and ATF responded to the scene, according to a post from U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi posted on X.
"Our federal agents are at the scene and we are working to learn more. Please pray for the families of the sheriff's deputies killed," the post said.
