A tearful Los Angeles County Sheriff held a press conference late Friday morning to formally announce the deaths of three deputies in an explosion at a training facility in East Los Angeles.
This morning, shortly after 7:30 AM, an explosion occurred at our Special Enforcement Bureau (SEB) Arson/Explosives Detail facility.
Tragically, there were three sworn members who were killed that were assigned to our Arson/Explosives Detail. No other department members were injured or transported to any hospitals. This is, unfortunately, the largest loss of life for us as the LA County Sheriff's Department since 1857. Between all three sworn members they had served our community proudly for 74 years ... 19 years, 22 years, and 33 years.
According to initial reports from multiple news outlets, there was also one deputy injured and transported to the hospital. Luna was asked about the discrepancy between that report and his current statement that no other department members were injured, and simply repeated his prior statement.
Luna said he has met with "several" family members of the deputies who were killed already, but some have not been notified so they are not yet releasing the victims' names. He added that LASD homicide detectives are investigating the deaths, and they are being assisted by the FBI, who are investigating the post-blast portion of the incident.
Breaking: Reports of 3 People Killed in Explosion at LA County Sheriff Dept. Training Facility
Immediately prior to the press conference, which was held about four hours after the explosion, the scene was rendered safe, Luna said. Luna did not give any information as to what type of explosion occurred, whether the deputies who were killed were taking part in training, what types of devices detonated, or whether there were additional devices. However, as we reported initially, sources told Fox News' Alexandria Hernandez that "deputies were moving ordnance on the facility's property when the explosion took place." In addition, Malibu-based investigative journalist Cece Woods, whose work centers on the LA County Sheriff's Department, reports:
LASD recovered two military-type devices and two pipe bombs in Santa Monica area last night. These were the devices that exploded this morning per sources. Feds have taken over the investigation.
Sources within the department confirmed to RedState that SEB recovered two military-type explosives Thursday night during an bomb call-out and that it was those devices being transported Friday morning when one of them detonated.
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