A California state investigation has determined that the deaths of three Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies in a grenade explosion last year involved 'willful' and serious safety violations. The Division of Occupational Safety and Health issued eight citations and approximately $350,000 in fines in January, which the sheriff's department is appealing.
The explosion occurred in July 2025 in the parking lot of a training facility, killing detectives Joshua Kelley-Eklund, Victor Lemus and William Osborn of the arson and explosives team. The previous day, the team had recovered two grenades from a Santa Monica apartment complex. Sheriff Robert Luna stated that the detectives X-rayed the devices and believed they were inert.
At least one grenade was taken to the training facility, where it detonated. A week later, Luna announced the second grenade was missing, and the department continues to investigate its whereabouts. The state investigation found that the sheriff's department failed to correct unsafe working conditions, provide effective training, ensure proper protective equipment, and properly document training and hazard evaluations.
Explosives were left unattended and not stored or transported correctly, according to state spokesperson Denisse Gómez. The Occupational Safety and Health Division also sued the LASD in January for non-compliance with the investigation, alleging the department provided limited documents and redacted information. The LASD responded that the state delayed document requests and cited national security concerns over FBI training materials.
