The family of Deputy Alfredo “Freddy” Flores, a 22-year veteran of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the county and the department, alleging fatal negligence in the maintenance of a mobile shooting range where a deadly fire occurred during a training session.
Flores, 51, sustained severe internal and external burns on October 10, 2023, when a fire broke out inside a 53-foot trailer at the Pitchess Detention Center in Castaic, used as a mobile firearms training facility. After battling injuries for six months, Flores died on April 20, 2024.
Allegations of Negligence
The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, contends that the trailer was poorly maintained and that combustible materials, including accumulated gunpowder, had been allowed to build up over time, creating an unsafe training environment.
At a press conference, family attorney John Carpenter accused the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department of “deliberate indifference,” pointing to failures to comply with Cal/OSHA regulations and manufacturer safety protocols from Inveris, the company behind the trailer system.
“This never should have happened,” Carpenter said. “He was in a place that was supposed to be safe — a training environment — and yet it became deadly because of the county’s failure to follow basic safety protocols.”
Family’s Statement: Seeking Accountability and Change
Flores is survived by his wife, Margarita, and their four children: Nathaniel, Kayla, Adrian, and Victoria.
“Freddy was taken from all of our lives far too soon,” the family said in a public statement. “We miss his love, his attention, his protection, and his sense of humor. This loss has left a tremendous void in our lives.”
They emphasized that the goal of the lawsuit is not only to seek accountability and answers but also to ensure this kind of tragedy never happens again.
Sheriff’s Department Response Pending
As of Monday, the Sheriff’s Department has not issued a response to the allegations or lawsuit.
Deputy Flores had served the department for more than two decades, with past assignments at the North County Correctional Facility, Altadena station, and the Court Services West Bureau.
Lawsuit Details
The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages and holds the county and sheriff’s department responsible for the conditions that allegedly led to the blaze.
This legal action comes as safety concerns in law enforcement training environments gain increased attention — especially when violations of state safety standards are alleged to have contributed to the loss of life.
