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Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Grenade killed 3 Los Angeles sheriff's officials, but second grenade unaccounted for
LOS ANGELES — A grenade that was taken to a Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department facility detonated last week and killed three detectives, but a second grenade remains unaccounted for, the sheriff said Friday. The sheriff's officials on the Special Enforcement Bureau's Arson Explosives Detail believed the two military-style grenades they seized from a Santa Monica storage unit on July 17 were inert, but one of them detonated the next day and killed the three men, officials said. A federal investigation has determined that the second grenade remains unaccounted for, Sheriff Robert Luna said. Investigators have used X-rays and searched vehicles and lockers at the East Los Angeles facility, as well as the blast site and facility perimeter, since the explosion, he said. 'We have looked at everything out there that we possibly could,' Luna said. He said the investigation into how the explosion happened was ongoing. 'Right now there's a second grenade that we're not 100% sure where it's at,' Luna said. The explosion occurred around 7:30 a.m. on July 18 at the sheriff's department's Biscailuz Training Facility. Killed were detectives Joshua Kelley-Eklund, Victor Lemus and William Osborn, who were all on the Special Enforcement Bureau's Arson Explosives Detail. The day before the explosion, the detail was called to help Santa Monica police after two grenades were found in a tenant storage unit in a building's underground parking garage, Luna said. The explosives detectives 'X-rayed the devices and believed that they were both inert,' Luna said. The devices were taken to the facility to be destroyed and rendered safe, he said. Officials do not believe the second grenade was lost en route from Santa Monica to the training center, Luna said. 'We believe with confidence that did not occur,' he said. Santa Monica is around 20 miles away from East Los Angeles. But if anyone sees what appears to be a grenade, explosive device or even an unknown object, they are warned not to touch it and to call 911. The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives will lead the investigation into the whereabouts of the second device, Luna said. The ATF has also sent its national response team to Los Angeles. 'I can tell you with clarity from our post-blast examination that we know one device exploded,' said Kenny Cooper, special agent in charge at the ATF's Los Angeles division. 'And we have not recovered any evidence from a second device on that scene.' Cooper said investigators, using explosives-detecting dogs, drones and cherry-pickers to look in trees, have 'meticulously examined the radius of over 400 feet from the blast site multiple times.' 'Over the abundance of caution, we searched a blast area far greater than the results of that explosive device,' Cooper said. There has been changes in how the sheriff's department handles explosives, including treating all devices, even ones believed to be inert, as live, Luna said. Luna said he has called for a thorough after-action review of department policies. 'We're going to turn this upside down. We're going to look at everything,' Luna said. 'We owe it to the families,' he said. 'And for God's sake, I never want this to happen again.' This article was originally published on
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Yahoo
Investigators exploring whether grenades found at apartment caused blast that killed 3 LA deputies
APTOPIX Training Facility Exposion LOS ANGELES (AP) — Authorities are looking into whether grenades recovered from a Santa Monica apartment complex caused an explosion last week at a Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department training facility that killed three members of its arson and explosives unit. Investigators served a search warrant Monday morning at an address in the Marina del Rey neighborhood. The department didn't say what, if anything, was found as detectives chase leads following the deadly blast early Friday at the Biscailuz Training Facility. Officials said they are exploring whether there may be a connection to the discovery on Thursday of grenades at an apartment complex in Santa Monica, a few miles (kilometers) north of Marina del Rey. The three members of the arson and explosives team responded that day to assist local police. Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said the deaths marked the department's worst loss of life in a single incident since 1857, when four officers were killed by gunfire. Those killed Friday were identified by the department as Detective Joshua Kelley-Eklund, Detective Victor Lemus and Detective William Osborn. They served 19, 22 and 33 years in the department respectively, Luna said. Luna said Friday that it took more than four hours to render the scene safe and the deaths were being investigated by the department's homicide detectives, with the assistance of the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. No one else was injured, he said. The sheriff said the arson and explosives team undergoes in-depth training and responds to more than 1,000 calls a year. Solve the daily Crossword
Al Arabiya
21-07-2025
- Al Arabiya
Investigators exploring whether grenades found at apartment caused blast that killed 3 la deputies
Authorities are looking into whether grenades recovered from a Santa Monica apartment complex caused an explosion last week at a Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department training facility that killed three members of its arson and explosives unit. Investigators served a search warrant Monday morning at an address in the Marina del Rey neighborhood. The department didn't say what if anything was found as detectives chase leads following the deadly blast early Friday at the Biscailuz Training Facility. Officials said they are exploring whether there may be a connection to the discovery on Thursday of grenades at an apartment complex in Santa Monica a few miles north of Marina del Rey. The three members of the arson and explosives team responded that day to assist local police. Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said the deaths marked the department's worst loss of life in a single incident since 1857 when four officers were killed by gunfire. Those killed on Friday were identified by the department as Detective Joshua Kelley-Eklund, Detective Victor Lemus, and Detective William Osborn. They served 19, 22, and 33 years in the department respectively, Luna said. The deaths are being investigated by the department's homicide detectives with the assistance of the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Luna said Friday that it took more than four hours to render the scene safe and the deaths were being investigated by the department's homicide detectives with the assistance of the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. No one else was injured, he said. The sheriff said the arson and explosives team undergoes in-depth training and responds to more than 1,000 calls a year.
Daily Mail
19-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Three veteran Los Angeles Sheriff's deputies killed in explosion at training center
Three Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies were killed Friday morning in a devastating explosion at a department training facility. The blast occurred around 7:30 a.m. local time at the LASD's Biscailuz Center Training Academy as authorities have yet to confirm the cause of the fiery explosion. The fallen deputies have been identified as Detective Joshua Kelley-Eklund, Detective Victor Lemus, and Detective William Osborn - all members of the department's elite Special Enforcement Bureau Arson Explosives Detail, a unit that reportedly responds to more than 1,000 calls each year. The three men were veteran law enforcement officers, having served with the department for 19, 22, and 33 years, respectively, according to a Facebook post from the grieving department. 'There are no words to express the pain and sorrow we feel,' Sheriff Robert Luna said late Friday. '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.' At an earlier press briefing, Luna described them as 'fantastic experts,' adding, 'unfortunately, I lost three of them today.' The three men were veteran law enforcement officers, having served with the department for 19, 22, and 33 years, respectively, according to a Facebook post from the grieving department Aerial footage captured in the aftermath showed an LASD vehicle with a shattered rear windshield, and a backpack lying on the ground nearby. The blast occurred at a site that hosts the department's special enforcement bureau and the arson explosive detail, which includes bomb squads. Sources told the LA Times that a bomb squad was moving explosives when the blast occurred. Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger said that while the exact cause of the blast is unclear, 'all roads lead back to it (being an accident).' The area has since been evacuated, and a large tarp could be seen covering the site. California Governor Gavin Newsom said through his office on X that he has been briefed on the situation and is offering 'full state assistance.' Attorney General Pam Bondi said on social media: 'I just spoke to [U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli] about what appears to be a horrific incident that killed at least three at a law enforcement training facility in Los Angeles. '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.' Bondi said in a follow-up statement that she had spoken with the L.A. County Sheriff, and said she had deployed FBI and ATF agents to the scene. 'Please pray for the entire Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department,' Bondi said. An employee at the training center reportedly said that they initially believed the explosion was an earthquake due to its force. Barger said in a statement: '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 said in a statement that she was 'deeply saddened' by the tragic incident. '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,' Solis said. '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.' According to the somber Friday Facebook post, Detective Kelley-Eklund became an Arson and Explosive Investigator with the Special Enforcement Bureau in 2022. Ahead of the prestigious appointment, Kelley-Eklund worked as a Detective in the Narcotics Bureau as well as in various local correctional facilities. 'He is is survived by his loving wife, Jessica Eklund and their 7 children,' the post reads. Detective Victor Lemus joined Kelly-Eklund in the elite unit last year after he worked as a Senior Training Officer and Detective before being transferred to the Special Enforcement Bureau in 2017 where he was assigned as a K-9 Handler. He is survived by his wife, Sheriff's Department Detective Nancy Lemus and three daughters. He has three sisters who are also on the department, according to the post. Detective William Osborn however was the first of the three killed in the explosion to join the Special Enforcement Bureau in 2019. 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,' the post reads. He is survived by his wife, Detective Shannon Rincon, four sons, and two daughters.
