LOS ANGELES – Three sheriff’s deputies who were members of the Special Enforcement Bureau’s Arson Explosives Detail were killed following an explosion at the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Biscailuz Center Training Academy in East Los Angeles Friday morning, officials said.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department responded to a report of an explosion around 7:25 a.m. at the facility located in the 1000 block of Eastern Avenue, near the 710 Freeway.

The training center was evacuated and roads in the area were closed as the investigation continued. The impact of the explosion was so powerful it broke the windows of patrol cars in the parking lot.

The facility serves the sheriff’s Special Enforcement Bureau and Arson/Explosives Detail.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is looking into the post-blast investigation and is being assisted by the ATF, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said during a news conference on Friday.

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

LA deputies killed in explosion had long history with the department

Former LA County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said the three deputies killed Friday in an explosion at an East LA training facility had decades of experience with the department. Today’s tragedy is the worst loss of life incident for LASD since 1857.

Explosion at training facility

What we don’t know:

While the official cause of the explosion is under investigation, preliminary information indicates this was a possible training accident.

It’s unclear what type of explosive materials were being handled by the deputies.

The deputies were identified as detectives Joshua Kelley-Eklund, Victor Lemus and William Osborn. They were all assigned to the Special Enforcement Bureau’s Arson Explosives Detail, according to the department.

Luna said the deputies had a combined 74 years of service between them at 19 years, 22 years and 33 years.

LASD deputies killed in explosion identified

Three LASD deputies were killed in an explosion in East LA on Friday. Detectives Joshua Kelley-Eklund, Victor Lemus and William Osborn had decades of experience in the department.

“I have met with two of the three families thus far. And as you can imagine, those were extremely challenging conversations,” Luna said, holding back tears.

The deputies had 20 plus years of experience in the field of arson/explosives. Two of the deputies provided security for the LA County Board of Supervisors.

Link to Santa Monica apartment

According to law enforcement, the deadly explosion may be linked to a Santa Monica apartment complex.

Officials say on Wednesday construction workers were installing EV chargers when they found grenades in a former tenant’s personal storage unit. The bomb squad was then called in. LASD officials say the grenades found at the apartment, located at 821 Bay Street, were related to today’s explosion. LASD homicide investigators were at the apartment Friday afternoon.

Santa Monica investigation tied to LASD explosion

Bomb squad investigators at a Santa Monica apartment building found what appeared to be grenades. The alleged grenades may be connected to the explosion at a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department training facility that killed three deputies.

This is the largest loss of life for the LA County Sheriff’s Department since an ambush in 1857. In terms of explosives, in 1986 two LAPD bomb squad members were killed in an explosion in North Hollywood.

A procession was held around 5 p.m. Friday, transferring the deputies’ bodies from the training center to the medical examiner’s office. Dozens of sheriff’s deputies stood in formation and saluted as the bodies were carried to a trio of medical examiner vans.

What they’re saying:

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi was among the first federal officials to comment, saying on X that she had spoken with both Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna and U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli. She also confirmed that the FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were assisting with the investigation.

Los Angeles County Supervisors Hilda L. Solis, Kathryn Barger and Janice Hahn all expressed sorrow and support following the explosion. Solis said she was deeply saddened by the loss and is in contact with Sheriff Robert Luna. Barger also expressed sympathy and said her thoughts are with the department and victims’ families. Hahn called the deadly explosion “an extraordinarily painful day.”

LA Mayor Karen Bass said the city was supporting the tragic incident and that LAFD arson investigators and LAPD bomb squad personnel are assisting as needed.

“The thoughts of all Angelenos are with all of these impacted by this blast,” the Mayor said on X.

Sen. Adam Schiff called the incident “an unbelievable tragedy” and added that he is “praying for the deputies’ families and every member of the sheriff’s office.”

Los Angeles-area U.S. Rep. Judy Chu said on X that she was “heartbroken by the tragic news of the explosion at the @LASDHQ training facility in Monterey Park that claimed the lives of three brave deputies.”

“I am monitoring the situation closely,” she wrote. My deepest condolences go out to the families, friends and fellow law enforcement officers mourning this unimaginable loss.

National security expert provides insight

What we know:

National security expert Hal Kempfer, who has worked previously with the LASD, called the situation “a horrific thing to see.”

“They are probably one of the best trained, most professional, special operations, law enforcement organizations in the country and the world,” he said. “So for something like this to happen, they’re gonna be looking at this very closely and trying to figure out what exactly occurred.”

Regarding the cause, Kempfer said it seems the deputies were transporting explosive materials when the incident occurred.

“It just tells me that probably they were transporting or storing something and something went horribly wrong,” he said. “Frankly, things do go wrong with demolitions. You take a lot of precautions and everything, but it’s dangerous work, dangerous training, dangerous business, and sometimes accidents do occur.”

Kempfer described the possible situation that may have unfolded.

“It would make sense that you’d have a driver and an assistant driver in a vehicle moving this, but because it is dangerous explosives, there may have been a couple of other deputies assigned to provide security in case anything happened along the way, and that might explain why you have four deputies involved,” he said.

“You know the driver sees things, but the assistant driver is an extra pair of eyes. And obviously with something like, you know, if you’re moving a load like this, you absolutely want to be extremely cautious about what you’re doing. So you need that extra set of eyes, but then of course, if anybody from the outside had knowledge that this was a load of explosives being moved, obviously that would make it a potential target for pilferage or worse. So you’d probably want some security as well. On the other hand, it could have been that they were moving to a range or something like that or moving to another facility. And it just happened that there were, you know, four deputies total because of whatever they were planning to do.”

As ar as the protocol goes, Kempfer said it all depends on the amount of explosives that are being moved.

“If you’re moving a few flashbangs, you’re not going to have four deputies needed for that,” he said. “But if you are moving a larger load of explosives, and it could be explosives that were tied to evidence, this could be a part of a seizure, and that would make sense to me if it was part of a seizure because a lot of times when you recover explosives from a crime scene, they’re not necessarily in as good a shape as the stuff that you would normally use. They may be less stable, they may be old, there may be a lot of problems,” he added.

Kempfer said it was “improbable, if not impossible” that the deputies did not know the materials were explosive or active.

“If this was something where someone had secretly planted explosives, that would be a different situation. It sounds like they were just simply moving explosive material and it sounds like a tragic accident,” he said. “Things just sometimes go horribly wrong with explosive materials.”

MILWAUKEE (AP) — A Milwaukee police officer who was shot Thursday while responding to a call died three days later, the police department announced on Sunday.

Officer Kendall Corder, 32, died Sunday as a result of the injuries he suffered in the shooting. His partner was also shot but survived.

RIP Officer Kendall Corder THANKS FOR THE LOVE YOU GAVE YOUR COMMUNITY

The two officers, both six-year veterans of the department, were responding to a call about a person with a weapon when they were both unexpectedly fired upon in an alley. The officers were not able to return fire, the police department said.

A 22-year-old suspect has been arrested but criminal charges have yet to be filed. The police department did not name the suspect.

“MPD is forever grateful for Officer Corder’s courage in the line of duty,” the police department said in a release announcing his death. “We grieve for his family, friends, loved ones, his partner, and every member of his MPD family whose hearts are shattered by his loss.”

Corder is the sixth Milwaukee police officer shot and killed since 2018.

Gov. Evers is also ordering flags across Wisconsin to fly at half-staff across the state immediately until sunset on Tuesday as well as the date of Officer Corder’s interment, which has not yet been announced. An executive order will be forthcoming. source

Milwaukee police officer dies after he and his partner were shot in an alley

• Tremaine Jones was arrested nearly four miles from the shooting scene – about eight hours after the shooting.

DJ Daniel, the 13-year-old brain cancer survivor honored by President Trump during his speech to a joint session of Congress, got to meet the commander in chief Wednesday and the two shared another tender moment.

Daniel, an aspiring police officer, received a standing ovation in the House chamber Tuesday night after Trump surprised the Houston teenager by making him an honorary Secret Service agent.

The “newest member of the United States Secret Service” and his family met with Trump, 78, in the Oval Office, where the young boy had a surprise of his own for the president.

“There’s one more thing I got for you – a big hug,” Daniel told the commander in chief before wrapping him up.

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Daniel, who was donning the same Houston Police Department uniform he wore for Trump’s big speech, had previously gifted the president a cowboy hat.

“What a good-looking family,” Trump said of the Daniel clan who accompanied DJ into the Oval Office, including the teen’s father, Theodis, and two young girls .

“That was a big evening last night,” the president said.

“Yes it was,” Theodis responded.

Theodis hoisted his son into the air Tuesday night as chants of “DJ! DJ!” broke out in the House chamber after Trump announced the honor.

“I was not expecting it,” he recalled. “Nobody even told us [it was going to happen].” 

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“[DJ] has always dreamed of becoming a police officer,” the president explained during his speech. “But in 2018, DJ was diagnosed with brain cancer.”

“The doctors gave him five months at most to live,” Trump added. “That was more than six years ago. Since that time, DJ and his dad have been on a quest to make his dream come true.”

Trump recounted how Daniel has been made an honorary member of other law enforcement agencies across the country — including the NYPD — and praised his fighting spirit.

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Daniel described his new Secret Service gig as the “biggest honor of them all” in an interview with “Fox & Friends” Wednesday morning.

“I was not expecting it,” he recalled. “Nobody even told us [it was going to happen].” 

Who are the Trump rally shooting victims? Corey Comperatore – Hero Shot and Killed at Trump Rally Protecting his Family ! RIP Hero! Men should strive to have courage like you sir!

We here at Good Shepherd News Media believe Corey defines courage and what a good husband and father is. He represents a realy family leader and protector. He was religous, helpful, and couragous till the end!

Revelation 21:8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”

We belive you have done good and fullfilled your duties as a man of God and Family leader! Good job – We Salute you!

A GoFundMe launched to support Comperatore’s family had already surpassed more than $696,000 in donations as of Sunday.

Former fire chief who died at Trump rally used his body to shield family from gunfire

“My family was sitting in the front, near where the President was speaking,” Jackson said. “They heard shots ringing out — my nephew then realized he had blood on his neck and something had grazed and cut his neck. He was treated by the providers in the medical tent.”

The Secret Service said it killed the suspected shooter, who attacked from an elevated position outside the rally venue.

The former president was showing off a chart of border-crossing numbers when at least five shots were fired. Trump was seen holding his ear and got down on the ground. Agents quickly huddled in a shield around him. When he stood, his face bloodied, he pumped his fist to cheering supporters as he was whisked off stage by Secret Service agents.

Trump later extended his condolences to Comperatore’s family.

Randy Reamer, president of the Buffalo Township volunteer fire company, called Comperatore “a stand-up guy” and “a true brother of the fire service.” He said Comperatore served as chief of the company for about three years but was also a life member, meaning he had served for more than 20 years.

“Just a great all-around guy, always willing to help someone out,” Reamer said of Comperatore. “He definitely stood up for what he believed in, never backed down to anyone. … He was a really good guy.”

A crew was power-washing the front of the Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Company on Sunday with plans to install memorial drapery to honor the slain former chief.

Assistant Chief Ricky Heasley of Sarver, who knew Comperatore for more than a decade, remembered him as very outgoing and full of life.

“He never had a bad word,” Heasley said.

And in the front yard of the Comperatores’ two-story home in Butler County, a small memorial had sprung up of a U.S. flag and small bunches of flowers.

For Morehouse, Comperatore’s death was an emotional blow — but it also has inspired political action. Morehouse says he plans on casting a ballot for the first time in his life come November and he plans on checking Trump’s name.

“As soon as I heard what happened and then learned that it was to Corey, I went upstairs as soon as I got home and I registered to vote,” Morehouse said. “This is the first time I’ve ever voted and I think it will be in his memory.”

A GoFundMe launched to support Comperatore’s family had already surpassed more than $696,000 in donations as of Sunday.

BUFFALO TOWNSHIP, Pa. (AP) — The former fire chief who was killed at a Pennsylvania rally for Donald Trump spent his final moments diving down in front of his family, protecting them from the gunfire that rang out Saturday during an assassination attempt against the former president.

Corey Comperatore’s quick decision to use his body as a shield against the bullets flying toward his wife and daughter rang true to the close friends and neighbors who loved and respected the proud 50-year-old Trump supporter, noting that the Butler County resident was a “man of conviction.”

“He’s a literal hero. He shoved his family out of the way, and he got killed for them,” said Mike Morehouse, who lived next to Comperatore for the last eight years. “He’s a hero that I was happy to have as a neighbor.”

Comperatore died Saturday during an attempt to kill Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. At least two other people were injured: David Dutch, 57, of New Kensington, Pennsylvania, and James Copenhaver, 74, of Moon Township, Pennsylvania, according to the Pennsylvania State Police. Both were listed in stable condition as of Sunday.

As support for Comperatore’s family began to pour in from across the country, President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden also extended their “deepest condolences.” source

An attempt to assassinate former US president Donald Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania has left one bystander dead and two seriously injured.

Trump suffered an upper ear injury but was otherwise unharmed, later telling reporters that if he had moved his head slightly, he would have been hit in the head.

Three other men who were attending the rally on 13 July were not so lucky.

Here is what we know about them.

The 50-year-old volunteer fire chief died while trying to protect his family during the attempted assassination – diving onto them to shield them from the bullets.

“Corey died a hero,” Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro said at a news conference following the shooting, adding that Comperatore went to church every Sunday and “loved his community”.

“Most especially, Corey loved his family,” said Mr Shapiro.

Mr Comperatore’s daughter Allyson later wrote on social media about how her father had thrown her and her mother to the ground and “shielded my body from the bullet that came at us”.

“He truly loved us enough to take a real bullet for us. And I want nothing more than to cry on him and tell him thank you.”

Allyson described her father as the “best dad a girl could ever ask for” and said he “could talk and make friends with anyone”.

“This feels like a terrible nightmare but we know it is our painful reality,” Mr Comperatore’s sister Dawn wrote on Facebook.

He was said to be an avid Trump supporter and to have been excited to attend the Pennsylvania rally where he was later killed.

According to Pennsylvania police, Mr Comperatore lived in Sarver, about 12 miles (19km) away from the rally site in Butler, outside the city of Pittsburgh.

“He was a man that just wanted to protect and serve and love. He was truly a man of love,” fellow firefighter Craig Cirrincione told the Associated Press.

In addition to his volunteer firefighting work, he was employed as a project and tooling engineer at a plastics manufacturing company, according to his social media profiles.

“He was a good person,” neighbour Matt Achilles told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “We might not have agreed on the same political views, but that didn’t stop him from being a good friend and neighbour.”

“He donated money to us when I was in the hospital and he would always come by at our yard sales. He always waved hello when I drove past his house,” Mr Achilles said.

More on the Topic and the Tragic Loss at this Trump Rally Event by a Domestic Terrorist below:

Attempted Assassination Donald Trump Shot

Corey Comperatore – The Hero killed while saving his family at trump rally

Who is Thomas Matthew Crooks (other than the coward who shot Trump)

Corey Comperatore – Hero Shot and Killed at Trump Rally Protecting his Family ! RIP

California woman Brenda Duran is survived by her husband and 3 children

A mother’s love knows no boundaries.

That was especially true on May 9 when Brenda Duran jumped into the San Joaquin River in central California to rescue her drowning daughter.

The mom watched her children playing in the water of a popular beach, but when her 11-year-old daughter could not keep her head above water, Duran rushed into the river, according to the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office.

As she sought to save her daughter, Duran “struggled to stay afloat,” the sheriff’s office said, and the river’s current swallowed the mom.

AMERICANS, INCLUDING SOUTH CAROLINA COUPLE, STRANDED BY NORWEGIAN CRUISE SAVE ELDERLY PASSENGER, FAMILY SAYS: SHIP ‘LEFT HER TO DIE’

Brenda Duran, 30, died saving her 11-year-old daughter who was drowning. (GoFundMe)

Her son, 14, saw his mom in trouble and jumped back into the river to try to grab her, but he could not get to her in time, according to the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office.

That was around 6:30 p.m. on May 9. First responders, including rescue dive teams, spent hours in the water, but “visibility and safety” concerns forced the search to be paused around 11 p.m., police said.

VOLUNTEERS’ SEARCH FOR MISSING DAD WHO DISAPPEARED DURING CRUISE EXCURSION COMPLICATED BY JUNGLE TERRAIN

Duran’s body was recovered around 5:30 p.m. on May 11 outside Newman, California. She was just 30 years old.

“Brenda’s husband describes her as a ‘very thriving person, always smiling, never giving up and very compassionate,’” Yadira Herrera wrote on a GoFundMe post on behalf of Duran’s family.

“Brenda, a young mother full of love and laughter, leaves behind her three children, her husband and her extended family that will forever hold her in her heart.”

First responders from all over the area around San Joaquin River tried to find and save Brenda Duran. (Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office)

The Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office said an autopsy will be conducted later this week to establish an official cause of death.

“We extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Brenda Duran during this time,” the sheriff’s office said.

The 366-mile San Joaquin River starts in Yosemite and Kings Canyon National Parks and runs through the San Joaquin Valley south of Sacramento.

San Joaquin River in central California is a popular beach spot. (Google Street view) source