The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Training Agency exploded on Friday to kill three deputies, the sheriff said.
Sheriff Robert Luna said at a press conference that the explosion occurred at Biscailuz Center College in East Los Angeles. Luna declined to reveal details, but said the area where the explosion had just entered the area deemed safe investigators.
The Los Angeles Times newspaper reported, citing unnamed law enforcement sources, that the explosion occurred when the bomb squad moved some explosives.
Luna won’t confirm this at a press conference.
The victims’ names have not been released, but Luna said they are all veterans with 74 years of experience.
“Unfortunately, this is the biggest loss of our lives as the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department,” Luna said.
The sheriff said it could take several days or weeks to determine the cause of the explosion, but vowed to conduct a full investigation.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi wrote on social media that she spoke with Luna to U.S. attorneys in the Central District, “about it seems like a horrible incident, killing at least three cases in law enforcement training institutions in Los Angeles.”
Bondy said federal agents were on the scene and worked hard to learn more.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom said on social media that the state sent investigators from the state fire marshal’s office to assist in the investigation.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said Los Angeles Fire Department arson investigators and members of the Police Department bomb squad are helping in the investigation.
