Key Point Summary – Deputies killed in L.A. blast

• Three sheriff’s deputies died in a blast at a training facility
• The explosion occurred near the bomb squad vehicle zone
• One other person was hospitalized; condition unknown
• LAPD and FBI bomb technicians secured the area
• The cause of the explosion remains under investigation
• Emergency crews covered the blast site with a large tarp
• Officials described the event as horrific and heartbreaking

Tragedy at the Biscailuz Training Center

A powerful explosion shook the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Biscailuz Training Center early Friday morning, killing at least three deputies and injuring another, according to law enforcement sources.

The blast erupted just before 7:30 a.m. at the facility located on Eastern Avenue, which houses specialized divisions including the bomb squad and the arson explosive detail. Witnesses reported hearing a sudden, deafening boom followed by the sound of shattering glass and screams.

One injured person was rushed to a nearby hospital. Officials have not yet released their condition.

Bomb Squad Moving Explosive When Blast Occurred

According to sources familiar with the investigation, members of the sheriff’s bomb squad were in the process of moving explosive ordinance when the detonation occurred.

The exact nature of the device remains unknown, but the force of the blast was so strong that it blew out the windows of a nearby SUV cruiser parked roughly 25 yards from the facility.

Authorities immediately evacuated the training center. Emergency responders, including the LAPD’s bomb squad and the FBI, were deployed to the scene. Helicopters hovered overhead as additional units entered the cordoned-off area.

A massive tarp now covers the impact zone as officials continue their forensic analysis.

History of Incidents at Sheriff Training Sites

This is not the first time disaster has struck a sheriff’s department facility. In the past 12 years, at least four fires have broken out in the department’s mobile shooting range trailers. In one 2023 incident, two deputies at the Pitchess Detention Center suffered third-degree burns after a fire inside a training trailer.

These repeated incidents raise new questions about safety protocols and oversight in high-risk law enforcement environments.

State and Federal Response Underway

Governor Gavin Newsom said he had been briefed on the incident and that the California Office of Emergency Services is closely monitoring the situation. The agency has offered full state support.

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi called the explosion a “horrific incident” in a public statement. “Our federal agents are at the scene and we are working to learn more,” she said. “Please pray for the families of the sheriff’s deputies killed.”

Authorities have not yet released the names of the deputies involved, pending notification of next of kin.

A Shattered Morning, A Grieving Department

Employees on-site described chaos in the moments after the explosion. One staff member said the boom shook the ground. Another reported seeing smoke pouring from the bomb squad parking zone. Sirens followed almost immediately, along with helicopters and a swarm of law enforcement vehicles.

Civilian workers were ordered to evacuate as hazmat and bomb technicians swept the site for secondary hazards.

The explosion has sent shockwaves through the law enforcement community—both locally and nationally.

“This is one of the darkest days we’ve faced,” one department official said. “We train to handle explosives, but sometimes the danger is unavoidable. These deputies were heroes.”

What Happens Next?

Investigators from multiple agencies, including the FBI, ATF, and LAPD, are now combing through the debris. Their immediate goal is to determine what type of explosive detonated and how it was being handled.

Questions remain about whether equipment failure, human error, or a previously undetected flaw in the ordinance caused the deadly blast.

For now, the sheriff’s department is focused on mourning, securing the scene, and supporting the families of the fallen.

And across the state, flags fly lower today in honor of the men who gave their lives in the line of duty.