Golden Chaos: Explosion And Car Attack In Los Angeles!

Wild way to end the week in Los Angeles.

Vehicle attacks are on the rise. More individuals are crashing into pedestrians. 

Some could be medical emergencies. Others are intentional acts where a suspect decides to cause havoc upon those who are perceived as an enemy.

A vehicle intentionally runs over pedestrians in Los Angeles.

Days after a training accident killing three Los Angeles County Sheriffs Office Deputies.

President Donald J. Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Gov. Gavin Newsom, Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA), Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA), Mayor Karen Bass and the U.S. House members of California were notified.

1. Three deputies killed in deadly explosion at East L.A. training facility Friday morning

The incident, which was believed to be an accident, was reported around 7:30 a.m. at the Biscailuz Training Facility in the 1000 block of North Eastern Avenue, LASD said. The compound houses the sheriff's department's special enforcement units and bomb squad.

Multiple law enforcement sources briefed on the investigation told ABC News that it appears the explosive the depurites were handling had been brought back to the facility from a seemingly routine bomb squad callout and was believed to have been inert when it exploded.

ABC News also reports the victims were identified as Deputy Joshua Kelley-Eklund, Deputy Victor Lemus, and Deputy William Osborn, who were all assigned to the Special Enforcement Bureau's Arson Explosives Detail.

According to a social media post from LASD, Detective Kelley-Eklund joined the department in March 2006. He was known as an outstanding field training officer who was professional and articulate. He became an Arson and Explosive Investigator with the Special Enforcement Bureau and received his bomb tech certifications as well as other training accolades in 2022. He's survived by his loving wife, Jessica Eklund, and their 7 children.

Detective Victor Lemus joined the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department in 2003. He transferred to the Special Enforcement Bureau in 2017, where he was assigned as a K-9 Handler prior to becoming an Arson and Explosive Investigator last year, according to LASD. He received commendations for his ability to mentor and train fellow deputies as well as notable arrests involving career criminals. He's survived by his wife, Sheriff's Department Detective Nancy Lemus, and three daughters. He has three sisters who are also on 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. He is also survived by his brothers Alfredo, Pedro, Juan, and Efren and brother-in-law Sergeant Robert Catalan who is assigned to Carson Station.

Detective William Osborn graduated from the deputy sheriff Academy Class 278 in February 1992. He joined Special Enforcement Bureau as an Arson and Explosive Investigator in 2019. As an Arson investigator, he handled cases involving high-dollar loss fires in residential properties, as well as fires involving the loss of life, LASD said. He was a peer leader and took on the role of mentoring newly assigned investigators. He was described as "one of tenured bomb technicians regularly relied upon when faced with a new challenge. He has broad range of experience and could be relied upon to provide relevant insight on broad range of subjects."

L.A. County Sheriff Robert Luna says the specialized explosives unit responds to about 1,100 calls a year, but it's unclear what went wrong on Friday morning.

"There are no words to express the pain and sorrow we feel," Luna said. "These heroes represented the best of our Department, exemplifying courage, integrity, and selfless service. This is not only a heartbreaking loss for their families, but for all of us."

One of the deputies improperly detonated an explosive.

Between the three of them, the deceased employees had served in the department for 74 years, according to Luna.

Luna said the catastrophe marked LASD's worst loss of life in a single incident since 1857.

The deputies who were killed Friday also worked at the Board of Supervisors. No one else was injured in the explosion.

"I have met with two of the three families thus far, and as you can imagine, those were extremely challenging conversations," Luna said earlier Friday, choking back tears.

Embattled U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI director Kash Patel confirm they will investigate the incident.

Explosives found at Santa Monica apartment building Thursday may be tied to deadly blast

Several law enforcement agencies spent hours on Friday carefully searching a Santa Monica apartment building in the 800 block of Bay Street, where the device that exploded on Friday may have originally come from.

Investigators say the three deputies killed helped Santa Monica police with a bomb squad call on Thursday.

The FBI, ATF, LAPD bomb technicians, and sheriff's detectives were working to determine if devices found in the building are tied to the tragic explosion.

"The bomb squad went into the parking garage and recovered several grenades, and we didn't have to evacuate," resident Michael Kellman told Eyewitness News. "And then today, around 2 o'clock, a lot of officers showed up again."

This time, investigators ordered residents to evacuate as they searched a storage locker and at least one apartment unit.

"The only thing I remember from yesterday was getting this weird email from our HOA president saying that inert grenades had been found in the garage," resident Ivan Perkins said.

The HOA president told a resident that a former tenant who had been in the military may have left the explosive devices behind, and a current resident discovered them in her storage locker on Thursday.

"The woman who has lived there for years now had never seen them before, and that they kind of fell as she went in to look for something," Kellman said.

Numerous law enforcement officers were seen going in and out of the garage for hours.

End of watch.

Residents were allowed to return home later Friday evening.

The department did not immediately say the Santa Monica search is necessarily tied to the deadly explosion, but it is part of the investigation. Officials said it is not yet determined if the devices found at the Santa Monica apartment complex have any correlation to the explosion.

The sheriff's department issued the following statement:

"On Thursday our Arson Explosives Detail personnel who were involved in today's fatal incident responded to the 800 block of Bay Street in Santa Monica for a call for service to assist Santa Monica PD. Homicide Detectives are in the process of obtaining a search warrant for the location and out of the abundance of caution the LAPD Bomb Squad, ATF and FBI will search the location for any potential explosive materials. At this time, it is not determined if the devices found yesterday have any correlation to today's critical incident.

Santa Monica PD is assisting the Sheriff's Department in this incident and have evacuated the residents in the complex. They are in the process of locating a shelter for displaced residents."

2. 30 injured after car plows through crowd in East Hollywood, driver is pulled from vehicle and shot

At least 30 people were injured after a car plowed through a crowd in East Hollywood, when a driver apparently lost consciousness, authorities said.

The crash occurred shortly before 2 a.m. near the intersection of Santa Monica Boulevard and Vermont Avenue. At least seven people were in critical condition, six were in serious condition and more than a dozen were treated on site, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. Twenty-three patients were transported.

Among the injured was a male with a gunshot wound, the LAFD said. Authorities said 124 fire personnel responded at the scene.

Witnesses said bystanders also took the driver of the vehicle out of his car and attacked him following the car ramming. The driver was shot during the melee, the Los Angeles Police Department said. The shooter remained at large.

The car slammed into a crowd standing outside of music venue The Vermont. The crowd included clubgoers, valet attendants and food vendors from a nearby taco stand, according to the fire department.

LAFD Capt. Adam Van Gerpen said that a line of people - the majority female - were waiting to enter the nightclub when they were struck by a Nissan Versa that also hit the taco truck and valet stand.

People inside the club came out to help in the minutes before emergency crews arrived, he said, to help the victims.

"They were all standing in line going into a nightclub. There was a taco cart out there, so they were ... getting some food, waiting to go in. And there's also a valet line there," Van Gerpen said. "The valet podium was taken out, the taco truck was taken out, and then a large number of people were impacted by the vehicle."

The club was hosting a reggae/hip hop event from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., according to its online calendar.

"This is a heartbreaking tragedy. I want to thank the more than 100 LAFD and LAPD personnel who responded to the scene to help to save lives," Mayor Karen Bass said in a statement. "The hearts of Angelenos are with all of the victims impacted this morning - a full investigation into what happened is underway."

Since this incident involved a vehicle and gun violence, this incident will a FBI response.

WHITE PRIVILEGE IS REAL! IT'S "SUIT AND TIE" WHITE SUPREMACY ON TELEVISION, RADIO, THE INTERNET AND AMERICAN POLICY!

FOR EVERY BAD COP, THERE WILL BE A DEAD COP!

IF THE UNITED STATES CONTINUES TO AID ISRAEL, THE WORLD WILL BOYCOTT THE U.S. AND ABANDON THE DOLLAR!

I DON'T BELIEVE EVERYTHING ON THE INTERNET OR THE COP'S VERSION.

THERE IS NO GOD!

GOD IS NOT FIXING THIS!

FUCK YOUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS!

Trump gave us open season.

These murderers don't have mental illness. They are calculated and prepared. It happened to be a moment where they have the opportunity to take out lives.

There's no sickness in the head. Most mass shooters legally obtain their assault rifles without little background checks. They have likely no criminal history and they are willing to use the assault weapon in the only thing it's good for: Killing numerous lives.

I dismiss this ridiculous notion that criminals are the problem, not the guns. 

Firearms are often obtained through legal purchases. 

Again, having more security, teachers being armed and offering safe rooms are not solving the problem. The problem is lawmakers not willing to stop gun violence.

According to the far right: White shooters are mentally ill. Black shooters are unrepentant thugs and criminals. Gay shooters are active groomers. Muslim shooters are terrorists. Hispanic and Asian shooters are illegal immigrants. According to the far right, almost all white [or non-white] mass shooters are registered Democrats [or some progressive activist] because they have liked or done one thing common to the left. Of course, they often share or post disinformation by using the "Sam Hyde" meme or make bogus social media platforms with the shooter's image as a way to denounce most mass shooters being white or associated with conservative causes. The far right says a white person should "protect" themselves from thugs, terrorists or protesters. They believe the use of firearms are "justified" if they are protesting or even instigating a conflict. The far right believes if a shooter is a police officer, an active military member, a veteran or a citizen who supports conservative causes, they are considered a "heroes" and use of firearms are justified. If the shooters are teens in urban communities, the far right automatically assumes the gunmen are Black.

The Republicans usually amplify white victims. Anytime a person of color kills a white victim, it is often wall-to-wall coverage on Fox, Twitter and they force it into national news. They make the case to blame Black Lives Matter, Barack Obama, Kamala Harris, Democrats, Rev. Al Sharpton and rap music for Black on whatever violence. Republican legislators who do not live in urban neighborhoods often troll social media to talk about gun violence or crime in Chicago, Baltimore, Milwaukee and New York City while not doing a damn thing to stop it. If a white person shoots a Black person, the shooter is given the benefit of doubt. White shooters are given glowing profiles about their perfect lives and how friends noticed something but refused to do something. When it comes to Black shooters, automatic vilification. They don't see mental illness. They see it as gang violence, allegedly fatherless homes, Democratic policies or the need for more firearms. 

Expect more.

Holding these lawmakers accountable is not just a pledge, but a promise. You need to learn who represents your community. Your local community member, your school board member, your mayor, your state representative, your state senator, your governor, your U.S. Representative, your U.S. Senator and the president need to be held accountable for their actions. 

We need to put pressure on Republicans and Democrats to do something to improve everyone's lives. Keep pressure on them with Israel. 

Israel must be held accountable for war crimes and the U.S. must end its aid. 

Our taxpayer money should not help Israel any further.

Republicans have extremely unpopular ideas. They will find out the risk of supporters being turned off by their policies.

Biden, Harris and the Democratic Party failed at understanding what is more important to the country. Trump, Vance and the Republican Party have already failed at understanding.

Both parties support of Israel had made some Arab Americans, Muslim and young voters vote against them. They have cost Biden a second term and Harris a historical victory.

The website Officer Down is a memorial to those police officers who were killed in the line of duty. Those victims who don't get their names or accomplishments mentioned in the junk food media. Also the website the National Gun Violence Memorial also keeps record of the many individuals killed by gun violence. We are tracking police violence and school shootings as well. 

Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (Lifeline) at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or 988, or text the Crisis Text Line (text HELLO to 741741). Both services are free and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The deaf and hard of hearing can contact the Lifeline via TTY at 1-800-799-4889. All calls are confidential. Contact social media outlets directly if you are concerned about a friend's social media updates or dial 911 in an emergency. Learn more on the Lifeline's website or the Crisis Text Line's website.

The call center to the White House and Congress should still be the same.

The call number to the White House and U.S. Capitol is now going to be used. This is the official White House numbers 202-456-1111 and 202-456-1414. This is the Congress official phone number, 202-224-3121. Please be respectful to operators, staff members and elected leaders. Your calls are monitored by the U.S. Secret Service and U.S. Capitol Police. 

Let them know that "thoughts and prayers," "hearts going to" and "good guys with guns" are no longer acceptable and you want legislation to curb gun violence. Let them know that we need to protect pedestrians from vehicle attacks. Let them know that we are tired of police officers using immunity when committing death of suspects in custody. Let them know that deporting law abiding immigrants seeking refuge is inhumane. Let them know that cutting federal government services will have a major impact on our economy and the stability of our nation. 

You want our American military out of the Middle East and every fucking international conflict in the world. You want legislation to focus on ending gun violence, lowering the cost of rent, lowering the cost of food, lowering the cost of hospital visits, improving healthcare and building relationships with other nations. You want road duets to curb dangerous accidents with vehicles.

Let them know that pulling out of the UN Human Rights Organization, World Health Organization and Paris Climate Accords will put the U.S. in danger when catastrophic event happen. Let them know that you are tired of private equity firms getting away with destroying small businesses and long established companies. Let them know that you are tired of your taxpayer money going to foreign nations like Israel and Ukraine. You are tired of hearing about "Israel having a right to..." and the bogus claims of being anti-semitic or in support of terrorism. 

We have bigger issues at home and our tax dollars should solve the housing crisis, lowering food prices, fixing roads, bridges, helping reinvest in struggling urban and rural communities. We have hospitals closing, big box retailers leaving communities and television programs dying. There are bigger issues in the country than Israel. You want an immediate ceasefire and accountability for war crimes done by Israel. You want no more foreign influence in American elections. You also want to make sure future presidents and lawmakers avoid influence from lobbyists.