Explosion at LA County Sheriff’s facility kills 3 deputies
Three deputies were killed in an explosion at an L.A. County Sheriff’s training facility, L.A. County Sheriff Robert G. Luna said.
Three deputies serving on the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s explosives detail were killed Friday in a blast at a training facility, sparking multiple investigations and rocking the city’s law enforcement community.
The explosion occurred July 18 around 7:30 a.m. at the Biscailuz Training Facility in East Los Angeles, Sheriff Robert Luna said at a news conference. Three veteran deputies serving on what Luna described as the agency’s “arson explosives detail” were killed in the blast.
“There are no words to express the pain and sorrow we feel,” Luna said in an evening statement. “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.”
The three men are Detective Joshua Kelley-Eklund, Detective Victor Lemus and Detective William Osborn, the sheriff’s department said in a statement. They were assigned to an arson and explosives unit under the sheriff’s Special Enforcement Bureau, authorities said.
They had a collective 74 years of years, according to Luna. No other deputies were injured and the incident was being investigated by the department’s homicide unit as well as the FBI.
Luna said it was the largest loss of life for the department since 1857.
After the explosion, the Los Angeles Police Department’s bomb squad responded to the training facility “to render the devices safe,” Luna said. After several hours, the bomb squad determined there was no further threat in the area.
Luna said the cause of the explosion was unknown and that multiple agencies were just beginning to piece together what happened. Authorities closed off the facility and imposed road closures around it as investigations got underway.
“There’s a lot more that we don’t know than what 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.”
Who were the detectives killed?
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department authorities shared on the evening of July 18 the names of the detectives who died and information about their roles at the department.
Joshua Kelley-Eklund “was known as an outstanding field-training officer who was professional and articulate,” officials said. He joined the department in 2006. Among various assignments, he worked on complex investigations where authorities seized large amounts of drugs and arrested murder suspects, according to a statement. Kelley-Eklund is survived by his wife and seven children.
Victor Lemus was part of a big family of Sheriff Department workers, authorities said. His wife Nancy Lemus is also a detective and he has three sisters on the department. He joined in 2003. He was a noted runner and received commendations for his work training fellow deputies and in the field making notable arrests, according to the department. He is survived by his wife and three daughters.
William Osborn had been with the department the longest, officials said. He joined in 1992 and became known for his “love of investigations,” the department said. He received commendations for recovering stolen vehicles and handled high-profile arson cases involving expensive properties or deaths. Department officials described him as a leader who mentored newer investigators.
Memorial services will be announced soon, authorities said. Officials are asking for privacy for the families.
Gov. Gavin Newsom, LA mayor react to ‘horrific’ explosion
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass called the incident “horrific” and said the Los Angeles Police Department’s bomb squad was on scene. “The thoughts of all Angelenos are with all of those impacted by this blast,” she said.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom said he has been briefed and that the state has offered full assistance to local authorities.
Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said LAPD bomb squad, SWAT and K-9 units are responding to service calls made to the sheriff’s office.
“I am deeply saddened by the tragic loss of life this morning at the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Training Center,” McDonnell said. “On behalf of the entire Los Angeles Police Department, I want to offer our heartfelt condolences to the families, friends, and colleagues of the fallen deputies.”
Attorney General Pam Bondi wrote on X that federal agents, including members of the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were assisting in the response. She added that she has been in contact with Sheriff Robert Luna, U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli and others about the explosion.
“I just spoke with @USAttyEssayli about what appears to be a horrific incident that killed at least three at a law enforcement training facility in Los Angeles,” she said 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.”
‘Terrible tragedy’
Members of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, the county’s governing board, released statements after the explosion, expressing grief at the loss of three deputies.
“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,” said Supervisor Hilda Solis. “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.”
County Supervisor Kathryn Barger said she was “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,” she added in a statement. “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.”
Explosion was agency’s latest deadly training incident
This was not the first deadly incident during training for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
In April 2024, Alfredo “Freddy” Flores, a 22-year veteran of the department, died from injuries he sustained in a fire that broke out during a session at the department’s mobile shooting range, his family said in a wrongful death lawsuit filed earlier this year. The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Professional Association said an “equipment malfunction” sparked the fire.
In 2022, one LA sheriff’s department recruit died and others were severely injured when a driver going the wrong way hit them while they were on a training run. The driver said he fell asleep at the wheel and was later charged with manslaughter.
(This story was updated to add new information.)