Three deputies are dead following an explosion at a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s training facility in East L.A. on Friday.
At a press conference, Sheriff Robert Luna called it "the largest loss of life for us as the L.A. County Sheriff's Department since 1857."
"There is definitely a black cloud hanging over the Los Angeles County sheriff's department and our county family," he said.
He added that the three members killed were part of the agency's Arson Explosives detail and collectively served for 74 years.
"Nineteen years, 22 years, and 33 years," he said.
Luna said that he's not releasing the names of the deputies until all of their family members have been notified. He also said they don't know the cause of the explosion.
It happened just before 7:30 a.m. at the department's Biscailuz Training Center near the interchange of the 710 and 10 freeways.
According to KNX News Special Correspondent Steve Gregory, members of the department’s bomb squad were reportedly moving some explosives.
“I'm not clear whether it was kind of a training situation or whether they were just moving things around,” he said. “ It’s not clear at this point.”
In a statement on X, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced agents with the FBI and ATF were at the scene and that she’s spoken with both U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli and L.A. County Sheriff Robert Luna.
“Please pray for the families of the sheriff’s deputies killed,” she concluded.
Gov. Gavin Newsom's office said that Newsom was briefed on the explosion and that the state deployed "investigative personnel from the Office of the State Fire Marshal at the request of @ATFHQ."
In her statement, L.A. Mayor Karen Bass said LAFD/ATF arson investigators are assisting, as well as members of the LAPD bomb squad.
"The thoughts of all Angelenos are with all of those impacted by this blast," she added.
Supervisor Hilda Solis, who represents the district where the facility is located, told KNX News she went to the facility and that it was on lockdown.
"Today was one of the most tragic accidents, I think, in our history for the sheriff's department, and it just happened to be at our academy," she said. "Our training academy has been closed for many years, and just reopened recently to continue to conduct training in these areas."
"My thoughts are with all those grieving and the first responders who are on the scene," she said.
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Sen. Adam Schiff called it an "unbelievable tragedy."
"Praying for the Deputies' families and every member of the Sheriff's office," he said.
Supervisor Kathryn Barger wrote that she was tracking the situation as well.
“My heart is heavy, and my thoughts are with the brave men and women of the Sheriff’s Department during this difficult time,” she wrote.
Supervisor Janice Hahn called it an "extraordinarily painful day for our Sheriff's Department and for LA County."
"I am offering my full support to our Sheriff Robert Luna and his department as they not only work to support our deputies but to investigate what went so wrong," she said.
This is a developing story.
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