State Investigation Finds Safety Failures in Fatal Los Angeles Sheriff's Deputies Grenade Blast

An explosion at a Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department training facility in July 2025 killed three deputies and has since led to a critical state investigation, according to findings released by California's Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA).

The blast occurred in the parking lot of the department's training site and claimed the lives of detectives Joshua Kelley-Eklund, Victor Lemus, and William Osborn, all members of the arson and explosives team. The incident marked one of the deadliest single-day losses in the department's history.

Cal/OSHA concluded that the sheriff's department committed "willful" and serious safety violations, including inadequate training and unsafe handling and storage of explosive materials. According to Denisse Gómez, a spokesperson for Cal/OSHA, investigators found that explosives were left unattended, not properly stored, and not placed in suitable containers during transport. The state also cited failures in ensuring the use of proper protective equipment and in documenting training and hazard evaluations.

The fatal explosion followed the recovery of two grenades from a Santa Monica apartment complex just one day earlier. Sheriff Robert Luna said the devices were X-rayed and believed to be inert, but at least one was brought to the training facility and later detonated. The whereabouts of the second recovered grenade remain unknown, and an internal investigation is ongoing.

In January, Cal/OSHA issued eight citations and $350,000 in fines. The sheriff's department has appealed the citations and, according to court filings, has limited the release of documents requested by the state, citing confidentiality and security concerns tied to FBI training materials. Cal/OSHA has also filed suit to compel the department's compliance with requests for records related to the incident.

As of the latest updates, the sheriff’s department investigation continues and the second grenade has not been recovered.