What we know about 3 LA deputies killed in East LA explosion
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What we know about 3 LA deputies killed in East LA explosion
Deputies Joshua Kelley-Eklund, Victor Lemus and William Osborn were killed. They were assigned to the Special Enforcement Bureau’s Arson Explosives Detail. The LASD said memorial service details will be announced in the coming days. The team is often responsible for dealing with explosive devices as well as investigating violations of state or federal law. It is an elite team within the largest sheriff’s department in the nation. The department said the three were killed in an explosion at the department’s training facility in East L.A., the LASd said. The cause of the explosion is still under investigation, the department said. It was not immediately clear who was responsible for the explosion, which occurred at a training facility for the department in East Los Angeles.
They were all assigned to Special Enforcement Bureau’s Arson Explosives Detail, an elite team within the largest sheriff’s department in the nation.
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Detective Joshua Kelley-Eklund
Detective Joshua Kelley-Eklund is a 20-year veteran with the LASD, with the previous assignments at the Pitchess Detention Center North and North County Correctional Facility. He became an arson and explosive investigator with the Special Enforcement Bureau in 2022 and received his bomb tech certifications as well as other training accolades.
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“(Kelley-Eklund) was known as an outstanding field training officer who was professional and articulate,” the department said.
Kelley-Eklund was survived by his wife, Jessica Eklund, and their seven children.
Detective Victor Lemus
The 22-year veteran with the sheriff’s department previously served at Twin Towers Correctional Facility where he ran on the Baker to Vegas running team. The department said, even after transferring to a different assignment, Lemus continued running on Baker to Vegas teams.
“(He was) an anchor for some of the most difficult legs of the relay race,” the LASD said.
When he first joined the Special Enforcement Bureau in 2017, Lemus was a K-9 handler. He became an arson and explosive investigator last year.
He received commendations for his ability to mentor and train fellow deputies as well as notable arrests involving career criminals.
Detective Lemus is survived by his wife, Sheriff’s Department Detective Nancy Lemus and three daughters.
Lemus comes from a family of public servants within the LASD. His sisters are also members of the department: Sergeant Belen Lemus at Special Victims Bureau, Deputy Perla Lemus at Century Sheriff Station and Custody Assistant Wendy Lemus of Population and Management Bureau. His brother-in-law Sergeant Robert Catalan is assigned to Carson Station.
Detective William Osborn
The 23-year veteran first began his tenure with the sheriff’s department at the Men’s Central Jail before transferring to Pico River as a patrol deputy.
After receiving commendations for recovering stolen cars, Osborn was promoted to the rank of detective. He became an arson and explosive investigator in 2019.
“He was described as ‘one of tenured bomb technicians regularly relied upon when faced with a new challenge. He has a broad range of experience and could be relied upon to provide relevant insight on a broad range of subjects,’” the department said.
The LASD said memorial service details will be announced in the coming days.
Unlike other bomb units within different law enforcement agencies, the member of the LASD’s Explosives Unit have to be detectives before they are eligible to receive bomb technician training. The team is often responsible for dealing with explosive devices as well as investigating any violations of state or federal law.
A long process is involved for a deputy to become a member of the Explosives Unit as he or she will learn to disable explosives as well as remove dangerous materials from cars, homes and businesses by hand or using ropes.