KTLA by Erika Martin 8/30/2021
South L.A. man whose fireworks were faultily detonated by LAPD, causing massive explosion, pleads guilty to federal charge
A South Los Angeles man pleaded guilty Monday to transporting fireworks from Nevada to L.A., where they were confiscated by police officers who caused a massive explosion while trying to detonate them two months ago.
The L.A. Police Department had seized some 5,000 pounds of fireworks from 26-year-old Arturo Ceja III before the explosion, but investigators later uncovered a total of about 32,000 pounds — or 16 tons – on the property, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in L.A. said in a news release.
LAPD’s botched detonation injured 17 people — including nine Los Angeles police officers and a federal agent — and left a path of destruction spanning several blocks near the epicenter in the 700 block of East 27th Street, with more than 30 homes destroyed.
Some who lived close to the blast site died a short time later, including a man whose ceiling fell on top of him, and family members have questioned if the explosion contributed to their deaths.
More:
https://ktla.com/news/local-news/south-l-a-man-whose-fireworks-were-faultily-detonated-by-lapd-causing-massive-explosion-pleads-guilty-to-federal-charge/amp/?fr=operanews
