An explosion at a Los Angeles County sheriff’s training facility claimed the lives of three veteran deputies in what authorities are calling a devastating and unprecedented tragedy.
According to ABC News, the July 18 incident at the Biscailuz Training Center in Monterey Park marks the deadliest single loss of life in the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department's history since 1857, as investigators work to determine the cause of the blast.
The explosion occurred Friday morning at the sheriff’s department’s training grounds in Monterey Park, California. The deputies were members of the Arson Explosives Detail and were handling an explosive device when the incident took place.
L.A. County Sheriff Robert Luna said the potential explosive device involved may have been collected a day earlier from a residence in Santa Monica. The object was believed to be inactive when brought to the facility. No other injuries were reported, and emergency response teams, including the department’s bomb squad, quickly arrived at the scene and declared it safe shortly afterward.
Investigators Probe Cause of Unexpected Blast
The cause of the explosion remains undetermined, and officials are investigating whether it is connected to the items retrieved the previous day. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department stated that authorities have returned to the Santa Monica residence to search for any remaining materials.
Law enforcement officials have not confirmed that the devices examined on July 17 are linked to Friday’s deadly explosion. Sheriff Luna emphasized that despite the unknowns, the incident is believed to be an isolated event with no ongoing public threat. Agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, along with personnel from the Los Angeles Fire Department and the FBI, responded to assist in the investigation. Attorney General Pamela Bondi confirmed federal involvement, requesting prayers for the sheriff’s department.
Deputies Had Extensive Experience and Training
The three deputies killed were all highly experienced, and each had years of law enforcement service. They specialized in handling explosive and arson-related cases that often carry high risks. Detective Joshua Kelley-Eklund began his career with the department in 2006 and transitioned to arson and explosives investigations in 2022. He is survived by a wife and seven children.
Detective Victor Lemus joined the force in 2003, later becoming a K-9 handler in 2017 and an arson investigator in 2024. His widow is a fellow detective, and they have three daughters. Lemus also has three sisters serving in the department.
Community Reeling After Sheriff’s Department Loss
Detective William Osborn, who had the longest tenure, began in 1992. He became a designated instructor for emergency vehicle operations in 2016 and moved into arson and explosives work in 2019. Osborn was also known for mentoring young investigators entering the specialty.
Speaking about the fallen deputies, Sheriff Luna noted that their expertise came from regularly handling high-risk calls. He said the Arson Explosives Detail typically responds to about 1,100 dangerous situations each year, underscoring the level of their training and exposure. “Unfortunately, I lost three of them today,” Luna said during a public statement. “These are fantastic experts.”
Local Leaders and Agencies Offer Support
Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn extended her sympathies to the families and law enforcement community. “My prayers are with the families of the deputies and their colleagues in law enforcement who are reeling from this tragedy,” she said.
Hahn pledged to support the sheriff’s department fully as the ongoing inquiry continues. She emphasized the need to uncover how the device caused the explosion to prevent a similar occurrence in the future. Attorney General Bondi echoed the sentiments, urging the public to offer their thoughts and prayers for the sheriff’s department during a painful and uncertain time.
Scene Declared Safe, But Questions Remain
After the blast, the bomb squad cleared the area to ensure no further danger, and the site was declared safe later that day. Investigators are focusing their efforts on reconstructing the events and examining the chain of custody linked to the device retrieved from Santa Monica. The sheriff’s department acknowledged the uncertainty in a statement released Friday evening, saying there is no confirmed connection yet between the items recovered on July 17 and the incident at the training center on July 18.
Authorities say more information will be shared as the investigation progresses, and they are committed to providing answers for the families and the community while reviewing internal protocols related to the handling of suspected explosives.
