East L.A. resident recalls hearing blast that killed 3 deputies

EAST LOS ANGELES (KABC) — The community gathered on Friday evening as the bodies of three Los Angeles sheriff’s deputies were processed from the scene of a deadly explosion to the medical examiner’s office.

Eyewitness News spoke to a mother who brought her children out to pay their respects during the procession. The family brought an American flag to hold as the procession went by.

“We are three generations of immigrants here, and our community in East L.A., we’re always downfall. Beautiful people and heroes come out of East L.A.,” she said. “And I wanted to show my kids that we do really care. And our condolences to the family, and I wanted them to see and show their expression of how devoted we are to our community.”

The family lives just down the street from the training facility in a nearby residential neighborhood.

“We have history here, and I want my kids to be proud of where they are. We are a military family. We’re proud citizens. My mom is 92, clean record, so good people come out of East L.A.,” the woman said. “And we want to be thankful to those families and those deputies that really put their lives every day, and they don’t even know if they are going to come home.”

The family said they heard the explosion as they were getting ready on Friday morning.

“I was getting my little girl ready to go to summer school. At 7:20, we heard a boom. I was opening my gate. I was at a stoplight on Eastern and Floral when I see deputies come. I pulled aside, and I didn’t even know where they were going,” she said. “And her and I said, ‘Man, bless them.'” When we got home, there were three lives that we had literally passed at 7:33 and they were laying there. It’s hard. It’s hard for them to know that.”

The mother said it’s important for her children to understand the sacrifices law enforcement officers make for their communities.

“They were human. They had lives. They had kids. They had children. We were just talking about it, and she said, ‘Mom, I hope they didn’t leave their house being mad at anybody.’ And I said, ‘You know what, we’re going to pray.’ And so I’m thankful, thankful,” she said.