Explosion at Southern California SWAT training facility injures 16 officers
A blast at a California training drill resulted in 16 Orange County Sheriff's Department SWAT team members being hospitalized, reports ABC News.
8:11 AM EDT, March 14, 2024
Training turned into a tragedy
According to Sheriff’s Sgt. Frank Gonzalez, the explosion occurred around 1 p.m. in a small building at the Jerry Crowe Regional Tactical Training Facility.
During an indoor training session on Wednesday, a blast injured 16 members of the SWAT team from Southern California's Orange County Sheriff’s Department, necessitating hospitalization. According to the department, one individual needed surgery for a leg injury. Two individuals sustained minor injuries, and the other 13 experienced dizziness and ear ringing.
Investigation underway
Gonzalez lacked further details regarding the cause of the explosion. "It will be investigated," he stated. "We're working to understand the exact reasons behind what occurred."
News footage from a helicopter depicted a modest single-story structure wrapped in yellow police tape, set amidst grassy expanses. Bureau spokesperson Laura Eimiller confirmed that no FBI personnel sustained injuries.
According to Eimiller, the FBI Special Agent Jerry Crowe Regional Tactical Training Facility, located south of Los Angeles, provides firearms training and qualification exams for both the bureau and regional police forces.
Both the Sheriff's Department and the FBI are conducting investigations into the incident.
Source: ABC News, Los Angeles Times
