La County Sheriff’s Department Identifies Three Deputies Killed In Explosion

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has identified nan 3 deputies who died successful an explosion astatine a training installation successful California connected Friday, July 18. That detonation is nan largest nonaccomplishment of life nan department’s seen since 1857, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said.

“With profound sadness and dense hearts, nan Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department announces nan passing of 3 of our dedicated deputies: Detective Joshua Kelley-Eklund, Detective Victor Lemus, and Detective William Osborn, who were each assigned to Special Enforcement Bureau’s Arson Explosives Detail,” nan section said connected Facebook.

Explosion astatine Biscailuz Training Facility

The detonation happened astir 7:30 a.m. section clip astatine nan Biscailuz Training Facility successful eastbound LA. Members of nan Los Angeles Police Department’s explosive squad were sent to nan segment to stabilize nan area.

Luna said astatine a property convention Friday that this was an “isolated incident.”

“There’s a batch much that we don’t cognize than that we do know,” Luna said. “But our intent is to look astatine this from nan very opening and fig retired what is it precisely that caused this tragic event.”

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said connected Friday that nan occurrence section and national Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are assisting pinch nan investigation. FBI agents were besides sent to support nan investigation, according to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, and California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office said connected X that he was briefed connected nan incident.

“Please believe for nan full Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department,” Bondi said.

Lives lost

The LASD said nan 3 men who died were each assigned to nan Special Enforcement Bureau’s Arson Explosives Detail.

“These brave men served pinch honor, courage, and unwavering committedness to protecting and serving our community,” nan section said. “Their tragic nonaccomplishment is profoundly felt crossed our Department and nan full Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.”

Kelley-Eklund joined nan Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department successful March 2006, and became an arson and explosives interrogator successful 2022. Before that, he was a detective astatine nan Narcotics Bureau and worked pinch nan LA Impact Team. Previously a training serviceman astatine South Los Angeles Station, Kelley-Eklund mentored respective caller deputies.

“He was known arsenic an outstanding section training serviceman who was master and articulate,” nan LASD said. Kelley-Eklund is survived by his woman and 7 children.

Lemus first joined nan LASD successful 2003, and yet transferred to nan Special Enforcement Bureau successful 2017. He became an arson and explosives interrogator successful 2024.

“He received commendations for his expertise to mentor and train chap deputies arsenic good arsenic notable arrests involving profession criminals,” nan LASD said. Lemus’ woman is simply a sheriff’s section detective, and he has 3 sisters who besides activity astatine nan LASD, arsenic good arsenic a brother-in-law assigned to Carson Station. In addition, Lemus is survived by 4 brothers and 3 daughters.

During his career, Lemus “received commendations for his expertise to mentor and train chap deputies arsenic good arsenic notable arrests involving profession criminals,” nan LASD wrote.

Osborn graduated from Deputy Sheriff Academy Class 278 successful February 1992, and worked astatine nan Pico Rivera Station and past nan Industry Station, wherever he was made a detective. The LASD said Osborn would spell connected to activity arsenic a detective for complete 10 years, and handled hundreds of cases per year. After going to nan Training Bureau arsenic an Emergency Vehicle Operations Center Instructor successful 2016, Osborn joined nan Special Enforcement Bureau arsenic an arson and explosives interrogator successful 2019.

“As an Arson investigator, he handled cases involving precocious dollar nonaccomplishment fires successful residential properties, arsenic good arsenic fires involving nan nonaccomplishment of life. He was a adjacent leader and took connected nan domiciled of mentoring recently assigned investigators,” nan LASD said. “He was described arsenic ‘one of tenured explosive technicians regularly relied upon erstwhile faced pinch a caller challenge. He has [a] wide scope of acquisition and could beryllium relied upon to supply applicable penetration connected wide scope of subjects.’”

Osborn had a woman who was a detective, 4 sons and 2 daughters.

Members of nan Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department had a procession to grant nan deputies connected Friday, and specifications astir their memorial services will beryllium released successful coming days.