The tranquility of an Inglewood neighborhood was shattered on a Sunday afternoon when residents were startled by what has been described as a sudden explosion. As per NBC Los Angeles, the blast occurred shortly after a masked man reportedly demanded money at an apartment on the 600 block of South Grevillea Avenue. Maria Guttierez, a local resident, recounted the moment, stating, “I’m cleaning my house and coming down and I hear like ‘boom,’ like a big explosion.” Inglewood police and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's bomb squad were promptly on the scene as the investigation continues.
Residents of the complex have been living under a cloud of apprehension since the incident, with some unsure of the safety of their surroundings. Brian Duran, who resides at the apartment complex, reflected a sense of uncertainty, telling CBS News Los Angeles, “It sounded like a bomb, sounded like a bomb went off.” This sentiment was mirrored by another local, Michelle Taber, who expressed her concern about the proximity of such an alarming event. Despite the ongoing investigation, no residents have been displaced, and no roads have been closed.
The incident follows a reported confrontation two days prior, where an unidentified individual banged on the door of one of the apartments, demanding money. Inglewood Mayor James Butts indicated that the confrontation likely involved a family member of the resident who owes money to someone. Furthermore, a burglary was reported in the same neighborhood around noon on the day of the explosion, where a masked man was spotted, according to ABC7. Detective Neal Cochran with the Inglewood police mentioned the possible connection between the burglary and the earlier incident, stating, “We think the two are related.”
Authorities have yet to ascertain what exactly caused the explosion, which left significant damage to the second-floor apartment and adjacent units. In his 25 years of service, Capt. Neal Cochran of the Inglewood Police Department found the nature of the call unprecedented: "I’ve never heard of such a call," he asserted to NBC Los Angeles. The police believe the case to be isolated and consider the immediate threat to be over, yet the search for the individual responsible for the explosion is ongoing. Inglewood law enforcement is urging the community to come forward with any information that may be relevant to the case.
