Local News
Three deputies killed after explosion at Biscailuz Center Training Academy in East Los Angeles
No other individuals were injured in the explosion.
LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Three veteran members of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) Arson/Explosives Detail were tragically killed Friday morning in an explosion at the department’s training facility in the City Terrace area of East Los Angeles.
The fatal incident occurred around 7:30 a.m. at the Biscailuz Training Academy, located in the 1000 block of North Eastern Avenue.
The site is home to several of LASD’s specialized units, including the Bomb Squad and Special Enforcement Bureau.
At a press conference later that morning, L.A. County Sheriff Robert Luna confirmed the loss of the three deputies, calling them “heroes” and “the best of the best.” He noted that between them, the fallen personnel had served the department for a combined 74 years.
Their identities are being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
“This is the worst single loss-of-life event in the department since 1857,” Sheriff Luna stated, visibly emotional. “These individuals dedicated their lives to protecting others, and today, we mourn their ultimate sacrifice.”
Preliminary information suggests that the explosion was accidental. Law enforcement sources indicated that the device involved had been recovered earlier during a seemingly routine bomb squad response.
It had been deemed inert and was transported back to the facility for further handling when it unexpectedly detonated.
No other individuals were injured in the explosion.
The scene was secured by the Los Angeles Police Department Bomb Squad, which rendered any remaining devices safe. The LAPD Bomb Squad, LASD Homicide Bureau, FBI, and ATF are all assisting in the investigation.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass confirmed the city’s support and praised the swift response of emergency services. “This tragic incident underscores the danger our law enforcement officers face every day,” she said.
Governor Gavin Newsom has been briefed and is coordinating through the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. In a statement, his office said they are in close communication with LASD and are continuing to monitor developments.
Numerous local officials offered condolences and support:
Supervisor Kathryn Barger said, “I am heartbroken by this tragedy. My thoughts are with the brave men and women of the Sheriff’s Department. We stand with them and their families during this incredibly difficult time.”
Supervisor Hilda Solis expressed, “I am deeply saddened by the tragic loss of life. My heart is with the families, friends, and colleagues of the three individuals who died in what appears to be a devastating explosion.”
Supervisor Janice Hahn added, “This is an extraordinarily painful day for LA County. I am offering my full support to Sheriff Luna and his department as they investigate what went wrong. We must learn from this tragedy and ensure it never happens again.”
The FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) are on scene. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi posted a message of support on X, saying, “Our federal agents are at the scene and we are working to learn more. Please pray for the families of the sheriff’s deputies killed.”
The investigation into the exact cause of the explosion remains ongoing.
Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
UPDATE: Search efforts have been suspended following the sinking of the commercial fishing vessel Lily Jean off the coast of Gloucester, Massachusetts, marking another tragic loss for the city’s historic fishing community.
The U.S. Coast Guard was alerted early Friday morning by the vessel’s emergency beacon after it activated in the water; no mayday call was received.
Responders located a debris field, an unoccupied life raft, and one deceased individual in the water.
Six other crew members remain missing and are presumed lost after an extensive air and sea search yielded no additional results.
The Coast Guard cited frigid water temperatures, challenging weather conditions, and the vast search area in its decision to suspend operations.
GLOUCESTER, Mass. — Authorities have identified all seven individuals who lost their lives after the commercial fishing vessel Lily Jean sank approximately 25 miles off Cape Ann, Massachusetts, early Friday morning, marking a devastating loss for Gloucester’s historic fishing community.
The Lily Jean, a commercial fishing vessel measuring between 72 and 80 feet in length and homeported in Gloucester—the nation’s oldest working fishing port—activated its emergency position-indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) at approximately 6:50 a.m. Friday while returning to port.
No mayday call was received, and subsequent attempts to contact the vessel were unsuccessful.
The U.S. Coast Guard immediately launched a large-scale search and rescue operation, deploying an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and multiple surface assets to the area of the distress signal.
Crews located a debris field and an unoccupied life raft roughly 25 miles offshore near the EPIRB activation site, confirming the vessel had sunk to the ocean floor. One deceased individual was recovered from the water.
The remaining six crew members were later presumed lost after extensive search efforts yielded no additional results.
Officials confirmed that seven people were aboard the vessel at the time of the incident, revising earlier reports that indicated six.
The seven individuals who perished aboard the Lily Jean are:
- John Paul Rousanidis, 33, of Salem/Peabody, Massachusetts
- Sean Therrien, 44, of Lynn/Peabody, Massachusetts
- Freeman Short, of the Marshfield/Scituate area
- Captain Gus Sanfilippo, a well-known and respected Gloucester fisherman
- Paul Beal Sr., deckhand
- Paul Beal Jr., deckhand and son of Paul Beal Sr.
- Jada Samitt, 22, of Virginia
Jada Samitt, the seventh crew member identified, was serving aboard the vessel in the role of a federal fisheries observer with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). She had recently relocated to Massachusetts to pursue her passion for environmental biology, graduating last year. Family members said joining the Lily Jean crew was her first major professional role at sea and a lifelong dream.
Her aunt, Heather Michaels, described Samitt as a compassionate and driven young woman who deeply respected her captain and dedicated herself fully to her work. “She put her heart and soul into this opportunity,” family members said, noting her commitment to marine conservation and the fishing community.
Officials said the Lily Jean had reported taking on water shortly before contact was lost.
The vessel is now presumed fully submerged.
The tragedy has sent shockwaves through Gloucester’s close-knit maritime community.
Ashley Sullivan, a local business owner who knew the vessel’s owner, emphasized the daily risks faced by commercial fishermen. “I hope people really take a moment to understand the sacrifices these men and women make to put food on our tables,” she said. “This is heartbreaking.”
Massachusetts State Senator Bruce Tarr also expressed condolences, highlighting Gloucester’s deep fishing heritage. “Gloucester has a long fishing history, and that history includes tragic loss,” Tarr said. “It appears we are experiencing another of those painful chapters.”
Governor Maura Healey released a statement saying she was “heartbroken over the devastating news out of Gloucester,” adding that her administration has offered full assistance to local officials and the Coast Guard. She extended prayers to the victims’ families and the broader fishing community across Cape Ann and the Commonwealth.
Community members and local businesses have continued to share messages of remembrance and solidarity. Taylor Hunt, a relative of Freeman Short, posted a tribute honoring the crew, writing in part: “The salt has been in our blood for generations… A man is not lost while the sea remembers his name. Fair winds and following seas.”
The Lily Jean had previously been featured on the History Channel series Nor’Easter Men, which documented the dangers and demands of New England’s commercial fishing industry.
While search operations have concluded, the Coast Guard and relevant agencies continue to review the circumstances surrounding the sinking. Officials have stated that further updates will be released as additional information becomes available.
Authorities have urged the public to keep the victims’ families and Gloucester’s fishing community in their thoughts and prayers during this period of profound loss.