Family of LA County sheriff’s deputy who died after fire at training facility files wrongful death suit
The family of a Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy who died months after he was burned in a fire at a training facility in October 2023 has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the county, the department and the manufacturer of the mobile shooting range where the deputy was taking a firearms assessment.
In the complaint, attorneys representing the family of Deputy Alfredo “Freddy” Flores say that the buildup of dangerous amounts of unburned gunpowder residue, lead, propellent and other combustible materials led to a fire inside a shooting range near the Pitchess Detention Center in Castaic, critically injuring Flores and a second deputy.
Flores was doing a quarterly firearms assessment at the time the explosion and fire occurred, officials have said. Flores was hospitalized, but died on April 20, 2024, six months after he suffered third degree burns to his arms, back, hands, face and head, the complaint said.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office listed Flores’ cause of death as complications due to thermal injuries. He was 51.
“While nothing can fill the void left in our family’s life resulting from Freddy’s untimely death, with this lawsuit, we seek answers to our questions and accountability for the tragic incident that took him from our lives,” Flores’ family said in a statement provided by attorneys Monday.
The lawsuit was filed through attorneys by Flores’ wife, their son, two daughters and stepson and alleges Constitutional rights violations, negligence and product liability.
The manufacturer of the 53-foot mobile shooting range – Delaware-based Inveris Training Solutions – as well as Los Angeles County, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Sheriff Robert Luna and other high-ranking officers were named as defendants in the lawsuit, which was filed Monday and seeks unspecified damages.
In the complaint, attorneys allege Inveris Training Solutions was reckless, careless and negligent in its design and manufacturing of the mobile shooting range. It also alleges LASD officials did not clean or provide proper ventilation for the combustible materials.
Records from the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health provided by attorneys also show the department was fined a total of $301,000 by the state agency for failing to maintain records of periodic inspections and failing to implement procedures for identifying workplace hazards “including the hazard of allowing the accumulation of propellant throughout the surfaces of indoor mobile shooting ranges.”
Of the total amount, LASD was fined $250,000 for two violations related directly to the fire that led to Flores’ death, which were deemed “willful” and “serious,” the records show.
The sheriff’s department issued a statement saying it had not yet been served with the lawsuit, but insisted the agency “stands firm on creating an environment focused on safety and well-being for all employees.” Sheriff’s officials said an investigation is continuing, but preliminary findings found the fire to be accidental, City News Service reported.
“Our department is deeply saddened by this tragic incident, which took the life of a dedicated and respected member of our department family, someone who faithfully served our community with pride and commitment. Our hearts and thoughts remain with the entire Flores family during this incredibly difficult time, and we continue to stand with them in their grief.”
Flores arrived at the facility about 9:30 a.m. on Oct. 10, 2023, to take standard firearms stills tests for recertification, the complaint says.
A 22-year veteran of the force, Flores had worked at Altadena Station, the North County Correctional Facility, Operation Safe Jails and the Sylmar Juvenile Court, the department said after his death.
“Deputy Flores was not just a colleague, but a beacon of strength, earning the respect of both his peers and the community he served,” LASD said in an April 21, 2024 statement.
City News Service contributed to this report.