• Facebook
  • Google Plus
  • Instagram
  • RSS Feed
  • Twitter

Menu

Skip to content
  • About
  • Staff
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • FAQ
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
Header image

MyNewsLA.comLogo

Breaking news for greater Los Angeles and Orange County

Menu

Skip to content
  • Crime
  • Government
  • Business
  • Education
  • Hollywood
  • Life
  • OC
  • Riverside
  • Weather
  • Police Search for Driver Who Killed Bicyclist in North Hills
  • Man Killed in Porter Ranch Crash
  • Pedestrian Killed in Moreno Valley Hit-and-Run
  • Tree Fire Spreads to Riverside Home, Displaces Three People
  • Dirt Biker Falls, Suffers Major Injuries in Anza

Home » Uncategorized » This Article

Authorities Investigate Vandalism, Explosion at El Monte Church

Posted by Contributing Editor on January 23, 2021 in Crime | Leave a response
Share this article:
Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmail

Authorities are investigating vandalism and an explosion that occurred Saturday at a church in El Monte.

“The FBI responded overnight with the El Monte Police Department to an IED attack at the First Works Baptist Church,” FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said. “FBI bomb technicians and an evidence response team are processing the scene which sustained damage.”

No injuries were reported, Eimiller said, adding, “A joint investigation is underway for the person or group responsible for the attack.”

Firefighters and paramedics were dispatched at 1:13 a.m. to the church at 2600 Tyler Ave. in response to smoke coming from the building, according to a Los Angeles County Fire Department dispatcher.

Firefighters cleared the scene at 4:23 a.m., he said.

Officers from the El Monte Police Department heard the explosion and were the first authorities to respond. They called the county fire department and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, which in turn contacted the FBI since the target was a church.

“When our units arrived at the scene they found that (the church) … was having some smoke come out of the windows,” Lt. Christopher Cano told reporters. “It appeared that the walls to the church had been vandalized as well as all the windows. (The windows) appeared at first to be smashed, then we realized that the windows were not smashed, that they had actually blown out from some type of explosion.”

The church, headed by Pastor Bruce Mejia, has been the focus of community protests in recent weeks due to what are perceived to be teachings against the LGBTQ community.

Mejia has said his doctrine since the church was launched three years ago includes condemnation of same-sex relationships.

Like this story? Don’t miss any breaking news from MyNewsLA.com. Sign up here for your free newsletter.

 

Anyone with information regarding the incident was urged to contact the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office at 310-477-6565 or fbi.tips.gov.

Authorities Investigate Vandalism, Explosion at El Monte Church was last modified: January 23rd, 2021 by Contributing Editor

>> Want to read more stories like this? Get our Free Daily Newsletters Here!

Follow us:
Facebooktwitterrss
Posted in Crime | Tagged authorities, Church, Explosion, investigate, Monte, vandalism

Advertisement

Get The Latest News by Email!

Sign up here for our free newsletters. We’ll send you the latest headlines every morning and every weekday afternoon.

 
FORECAST FOR LOS ANGELES
46°
Clear
Feels like: 46°F
Wind: 3mph E
Humidity: 65%
Pressure: 29.82"Hg
UV index: 0
ThuFriSat
66/50°F
75/48°F
70/48°F
Weather forecast Los Angeles, California ▸

Most Popular Today

  • Terrifying Suicide Leap From Harbor Freeway Overpass Snarls Downtown LA Traffic 6,000 views
  • Man Opens Fire with AR-15 Style Rifle in Garden Grove Neighborhood 5,800 views
  • Seven Years of Sex Terror For Helpless Little Child in Glendale: Nabbed Suspect falls for Cops’ Fake Child Text Sting 4,800 views
  • Montage in Laguna Apologizes to Black Guests Who Complained of Rude Service 2,400 views
  • Man Killed, Four Injured in Gang-Related Compton Shooting 2,200 views

©2021 CalNews Inc.

Menu

  • About
  • Staff
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • FAQ
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service