At least 3 dead after explosion at Los Angeles sheriff facility

Los Angeles: Three people were killed in an early morning explosion Friday in what officials are preliminarily investigating as a possible training accident, according to a law enforcement official who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

The blast occurred around 7:30 am (local time) at the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Special Operations Bureau in East Los Angeles. The Los Angeles County Fire Department confirmed it responded to reports of an explosion at that time.

Though the LA County Sheriff’s Department has not officially confirmed any fatalities, Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi stated she was informed of three deaths by the US Attorney’s Office, led by Bill Essayli. His office has not yet commented.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has been briefed on the incident, a spokesperson confirmed.

Aerial footage from KABC-TV showed the explosion took place in a parking lot filled with sheriff’s patrol vehicles and box trucks. Investigations into the cause of the blast are ongoing.