At least 3 people dead Friday morning in a devastating explosion at the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s facility in East Los Angeles. The blast rocked the facility, located just five miles east of L.A. City Hall, shortly after sunrise, prompting an immediate emergency response and federal involvement.
Authorities have not yet released the names of the victims, but initial reports indicate they were affiliated with the Sheriff’s Department. It remains unclear whether the deceased were active-duty deputies, instructors, or trainees. Investigators are working to determine the cause of the explosion, with local, state, and federal agencies now involved.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi addressed the incident on X (formerly Twitter), expressing sorrow and confirming that federal agents are already on the ground assisting with the investigation.
“I just spoke to @USAttyEssayli about what appears to be a horrific incident that killed at least 3 at a law enforcement training facility in Los Angeles,” Bondi wrote. “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.”
California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office issued a statement confirming that he had been briefed and that the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) was coordinating with the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department.
“The Governor’s Office of Emergency Services is in contact with the Sheriff’s Department and closely monitoring the situation, and has offered full state assistance,” the statement said.
Supervisor Hilda Solis, who represents the district where the explosion took place, expressed heartbreak and pledged ongoing support.
“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,” Solis said. “My heart goes out to the families, friends, and colleagues of the 3 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.”
Emergency crews were seen swarming the training facility in the aftermath of the explosion, as yellow police tape cordoned off large sections of the grounds. Hazmat teams were also deployed as a precaution while investigators combed through the debris for clues.
The Biscailuz Center Academy is a well-known site for law enforcement training in Southern California. It houses classrooms, obstacle courses, and firearms instruction ranges used by the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department to train new recruits.
For now, questions vastly outnumber answers. Authorities have yet to determine whether the explosion was accidental, the result of a malfunction during a training exercise, or something more sinister. As investigators work around the clock, the tight-knit law enforcement community and the city at large are left reeling.
This incident marks one of the most deadly accidents to occur at a U.S. law enforcement training facility in recent memory. More information is expected as the Sheriff’s Department and federal agents continue to piece together what happened.
