LA County Sheriff Robert Luna and officials held a press conference Friday night to provide an update on the investigation into the deaths of three LA County Councillors killed in the explosion of military-style hand rena bullets at the training facility.
The explosion occurred at the Biscailuz Regional Training Center at 1060 N. Eastern Ave. on July 18th at about 7:30am.
The fallen deputies were identified as Detective Joshua Kelly Ecklund, Detective Victor Remus and Detective William Osborne. All three were assigned to the LASD Special Enforcement Bureau’s Arson Explosive Details.
Preliminary investigations showed that the explosives could have been connected to surgery performed one day before the Santa Monica explosion.
From left: Detectives Joshua Kelly Ecklund, Detectives Victor Rems and Detective William Osborne of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Division. On July 18, 2025, Biscales Regional Training Center (KTLA) Sky5 in East Los Angeles had surpassed a training facility where at least three lawmakers were killed in the explosion in East Los Angeles. The explosives that exploded and killed three LA County Sheriff’s Office lawmakers in July 2025 (KTLA) could have been found in a storage unit in an apartment in Santa Monica, law enforcement told KTLA. The explosives that exploded and killed three LA County Sheriff’s Office deputies could have been found in a storage unit in an apartment in Santa Monica, law enforcement sources said. LA County Sheriff’s Department and ATF Agent Investigator (KTLA) Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Truna, seen outside the Marina Del Rey Apartment on July 21, 2025, received a hug from supervisor Catherine Burger. (AP Photo/Etienne Laurent) Media and law enforcement stages near the explosion location at the LA County Sheriff’s Special Operations Bureau held in Los Angeles on Friday, July 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Etienne Laurent) 3 Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies died in an explosion on July 18, 2025 at the Viscale Regional Training Center in East Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Etienne Laurent) 3 Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies died in an explosion on July 18, 2025 at the Bisskills Regional Training Center in East Los Angeles.
Deputies, including the three who died, were called to their Bay Street apartment to assist Santa Monica police officers in an investigation of an explosive device in the storage unit of the building’s underground parking garage.
A woman cleaning the storage bin found the device and called it authorities. The neighbour is likely left behind by a former member of the US military and former tenants who moved from the complex about five years ago.
Two military-style hand rena bullets that were thought to have been stolen were X-ray and considered inert at the scene.
The July 18th explosion reportedly occurred when one of the hand rena bullets was cut in half as part of a training exercise.
On July 21, LASD officials conducted a search at the second location in Marina del Rey, in connection with cases as they worked to track the origins of hand rena bullets, along with agents from the Alcohol Bureau, cigarettes, firearms and explosives (ATF).
Although details are limited, footage from the scene shows authorities huddled at Villa del Marl apartment in the 13,900 block of Marche Saway. Using robots, we searched for several storage units in the alley behind the apartment, as well as boats in the marina.
Investigators have not released details of their findings, but so far no arrests have been made in the case. The explosion was the fatalest incident for the department for the first time in over 150 years.
“These brave men had the honor, courage and unwavering commitment to protecting and serving our community,” the Sheriff’s Department said on July 18th.
The fallen agent served with the department for a total of 74 years. Between their three, they leave 16 children behind, along with their destroyed friends and family.
This story will be updated. The press conference can be viewed on the video player above.
