Explosion at LA County sheriff’s facility kills three deputies
An explosion at a Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department training facility in California has killed three deputies. Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said at a press conference that this is the largest loss of life for the department since 1857.
East LA explosion
The incident occurred around 7:30 a.m. local time at the Biscailuz Training Facility, located in the eastern part of the city.
Luna said the deputies were assigned to the arson explosives detail. He said the sheriff’s department will not be releasing the names of the fallen deputies at this time as they are continuing to give notice to their families.
It’s unclear what the deputies were doing when the explosion went off. Los Angeles-based KABC reported personnel were handling some kind of explosives when the blast went off.
“There’s a lot more that we don’t know than that we do know,” Luna said. “But our intent is to look at this from the very beginning and figure out what is it exactly that caused this tragic event.”
The Los Angeles Police Department’s bomb squad was also sent to the scene to neutralize any other potential explosives. Luna said the process took several hours before the area was stabilized, which is why they are unable to provide more answers on what happened right now.
So far, no other injuries have been reported.
“There is no threat to this community, this is an isolated incident,” Luna said.
Officials react to the blast
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said the L.A. Fire Department and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are on the scene assisting the investigation.
“The thoughts of all Angelenos are with all of those impacted by this blast,” Bass said on X.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office said on X that the governor has been briefed on the explosion and is sending personnel from the Office of the State Fire Marshal.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said she spoke with L.A. County Sheriff Robert Luna, and the government has sent FBI agents to support the investigation.
“Please pray for the entire Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department,” Bondi said.
Other local politicians also reacted to the news.
“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,” L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn said on X. “We need to get to the bottom of what happened and make sure that it never happens again.”
L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger said on X that she is “heartbroken to hear of the terrible tragedy that has unfolded today at the 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,” Barger said. “My heart is heavy, and my thoughts are with the brave men and women of the Sheriff’s Department during this difficult time. I stand with them and their families as they navigate the hours and days ahead.”
Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
