Deputies Killed by Alleged Inert Grenade Explosion

Authorities are investigating the explosion at the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department’s East LA training facility that killed Detectives Joshua Kelley-Eklund, Victor Lemus, and William Osborn, all of whom had extensive experience in explosives handling. The deputies were handling military-style grenades, believed to be stolen U.S. military ordnance, which were recovered from a Santa Monica storage unit after being reported by a cleaning woman. The grenades had been x-rayed and declared inert before being brought to the training center, where they later detonated, causing the deadly blast. Investigators, including the ATF, have executed search warrants at multiple locations, including a boat and apartments in Marina del Rey, to trace the explosives' source and chain of custody. The ATF's National Response Team is reconstructing the events to determine what triggered the explosion, and officials caution the investigation could take weeks or months. The incident has deeply affected the law enforcement community as authorities work to prevent similar tragedies.