Authorities Serve Warrant Linked to Blast That Killed Three Deputies

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department executed a search warrant Tuesday in Marina del Rey as part of an investigation into the explosion that resulted in the deaths of three deputies.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, along with the Los Angeles Police Department, assisted deputies in serving the warrant at the 4200 block of Via Marina. Authorities stated they aimed to trace the origins of devices found at a Santa Monica complex.

A similar search warrant had been served Monday at a nearby location in the 13900 block of Marquesas Way.

The fatal explosion occurred on July 18 at the department's Biscailuz Training Facility in East Los Angeles. Senior law enforcement officials reported that the department's bomb squad had recovered at least one grenade on July 17 from a garage in Santa Monica on the 800 block of Bay Street.

Deputies from the Arson Explosives Detail held the device overnight and were attempting to render it safe when the explosion happened.

“There’s a lot more that we don’t know than we do know,” said Sheriff Robert Luna on Friday. “But our intent is to look at this from the very beginning and figure out what is it exactly that caused this tragic event.”

The Sheriff's Department identified the deputies who died in the explosion as detectives Joshua Kelley-Eklund, Victor Lemus, and William Osborn.

“There are no words to express the pain and sorrow we feel,” Luna stated. “These heroes represented the best of our Department, exemplifying courage, integrity, and selfless service. This is not only a heartbreaking loss for their families, but for all of us.”