The blast took the lives of three veterans, each with 19 to 33 years of service at the department, who were part of the sheriff’s arson explosives detail. The identities of the deceased officers have not yet been released as families are still being notified. Sheriff Robert Luna stated that this incident marks the greatest loss of life for the department in its 166-year history. The explosion is reported to have taken place in the parking lot of the special enforcement bureau, leading to a swift evacuation of the area.

Unconfirmed reports indicated that the bomb squad was responding to a potentially dangerous grenade discovered in a Santa Monica garage just a day prior. It seems the grenade was brought back to the training facility for safe handling when the tragic explosion occurred. The FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are now involved in the investigation.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has been informed of the situation and is monitoring developments closely while offering state support. Los Angeles County officials, including Supervisor Kathryn Barger, expressed their condolences and concern for the officers and their families affected by this heartbreaking event.

As investigations continue, the facility remains sealed off to gather further details about what led to this tragic loss.