The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department confirmed Thursday it is conducting an internal investigation into allegations that graphic photos from the scene of a grenade explosion that killed three deputies may have been circulated internally.
The investigation, first reported by the Los Angeles Times, mirrors a scandal that erupted in 2020 when department members who responded to the scene of the helicopter crash that killed Laker legend Kobe Bryant took gruesome photos and shared them with others.
The new probe stems from a July 18, 2025, explosion at the department’s Biscailuz Regional Training Center in East Los Angeles that killed sheriff’s detectives Joshua Kelley-Eklund, Victor Lemus and William Osborn. Sheriff’s officials said one of two grenades that had been found the previous day at a Santa Monica apartment building detonated, killing the trio.
Investigations were continuing into the cause of the explosion, and into the disappearance of the second grenade, which could not be located after the blast and remains unaccounted for.
The sheriff’s department confirmed that an investigation was underway into the possible internal sharing of photos taken at the scene of the grenade blast. The exact nature of the photos was unclear, but The Times reported there were allegations of agency officials sharing “gruesome” images.
“The department is aware of the photo allegations and there is an ongoing investigation,” according to a sheriff’s department statement provided to City News Service. “If the investigation reveals evidence that misconduct occurred and policies were violated, then the appropriate action will be taken.”
The department also verified that a department commander — identified by The Times as Cmdr. Thomas Giandomenico — has been relieved of duty in connection with the probe. According to The Times, he is a 38-year department veteran.
“The employee was relieved of duty on September 11, 2025, pending the outcome of an internal criminal investigation,” according to the sheriff’s department.
News of the investigation came the same week that Lemus’ widow filed a damages claim — the precursor to a lawsuit — against the department and county, alleging a series of missteps by sheriff’s personnel in the retrieval and handling of the grenades.
Following the photo scandal involving the Kobe Bryant helicopter crash, the basketball star’s widow, Vanessa Bryant, sued the county — along with the husband and father of three of the other crash victims. They were ultimately awarded $31 million in damages by a jury.