Missing Grenade After Deadly Blast at LA Facility

Missing Grenade After Deadly Blast at LA Facility \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Three veteran LA County Sheriff’s deputies died in a training facility explosion involving grenades. One grenade detonated while the other remains missing, prompting a major investigation. The department is now changing its policies on handling explosives.

Quick Looks

• A grenade is missing following a deadly explosion at a Sheriff’s Department training center
• The blast killed three veteran arson and explosives detectives
• One of two recovered grenades detonated; the other is unaccounted for
• An ATF investigation is underway; a final report is due in 45 days
• Extensive searches of the area, vehicles, and facilities have turned up nothing
• The grenades were collected from an apartment complex’s storage unit
• Previously thought to be inert, they were being destroyed when one exploded
• Policies are being revised: all explosive devices will now be treated as live
• The incident marks the department’s deadliest day since 1857
• Fallen deputies served a combined 74 years in law enforcement

Deep Look

Authorities are searching for a missing grenade after a deadly explosion at a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) training facility that claimed the lives of three experienced deputies from the department’s elite arson and explosives detail. The incident, which occurred on July 18, 2025, is now the subject of an intensive federal investigation, while internal reviews are prompting urgent changes to longstanding protocols regarding the handling of explosive materials.

The deadly blast took place at the Biscailuz Training Facility in East Los Angeles while detectives were working to dispose of two grenades recovered the day before from a Santa Monica apartment complex. According to Sheriff Robert Luna, the grenades had been retrieved from a storage unit located in the underground garage of the residential building. The tenant had alerted authorities after discovering the suspicious items inside a box.

Deputies from the arson and explosives team responded, conducted an on-site x-ray scan, and concluded that both devices were inert—meaning incapable of detonation. They transported the grenades to the training site to be rendered safe and destroyed. However, during that disposal effort, one of the grenades unexpectedly detonated, killing three veteran detectives.

The explosion sent shockwaves through the law enforcement community and devastated the Sheriff’s Department. The fallen deputies were later identified as Detective Joshua Kelley-Eklund, Detective Victor Lemus, and Detective William Osborn. Their years of service with LASD spanned 19, 22, and 33 years respectively, marking a combined 74 years of law enforcement experience lost in an instant. Sheriff Luna described the incident as the department’s most tragic day since 1857, when four deputies were fatally shot in a single event.

In the aftermath of the explosion, investigators made a disturbing discovery: only one grenade had detonated, and the second device was missing. “We’ve looked everywhere,” Luna said during a press conference. “We’ve X-rayed every special enforcement vehicle. We’ve searched the blast site, our offices, the gym, and every inch of this facility. That grenade has not been located.”

Authorities have since confirmed that no members of the public had access to the training facility before or during the explosion. Despite these security measures, the second grenade remains unaccounted for, raising safety concerns and triggering speculation about how such a dangerous device could vanish without a trace.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has taken the lead in the federal investigation. While preliminary findings have not been released, the agency is expected to publish a final report within 45 days. In parallel, the LASD is conducting its own internal review. Sheriff Luna has also requested an independent audit of the arson and explosives unit’s policies, training procedures, and decision-making frameworks.

“We have already made changes,” Luna said. “Going forward, every single explosive device—regardless of how inert it may seem—will be handled as if it’s live. That means full precautions, complete containment, and ultimate disposal through certified methods.”

This policy change marks a significant shift in how explosive threats are evaluated and neutralized by law enforcement personnel in Los Angeles County. The decision comes amid mounting pressure for accountability and assurances that no similar incident will occur in the future.

Public reaction has been a mix of mourning and concern. Many have expressed sympathy for the families of the fallen deputies, while others have called for a deeper investigation into how a device presumed inert could detonate, and why the second grenade has yet to be located. Safety experts suggest that human error in classifying the devices, or a flaw in the detection equipment, could be factors that led to the fatal misjudgment.

The Biscailuz Training Facility, where the explosion occurred, is normally used for advanced training by specialized units. The site includes classrooms, bomb disposal labs, and exercise facilities. Following the blast, the campus was placed under lockdown and a forensic sweep was initiated.

As authorities work to uncover what went wrong, tributes continue to pour in for the three fallen officers. Candlelight vigils, memorial walls, and flag-lowering ceremonies have been organized across Los Angeles County. The LASD has announced that each detective will be posthumously honored for bravery and lifelong dedication to public service.

Sheriff Luna has pledged transparency throughout the investigation, promising to release all findings to the public as soon as they are available. He emphasized that the department owes it not only to the families of the victims but also to the community at large to learn from this tragedy and to ensure stricter safety protocols moving forward.

As the search for the missing grenade continues and the investigation unfolds, one fact remains clear: the LASD, and the broader law enforcement community, has suffered an immeasurable loss. The legacy of Detectives Kelley-Eklund, Lemus, and Osborn will serve as a reminder of the risks officers face—and the urgent need for continual improvement in how those risks are managed.

More on US News