Official: 1 dead in South LA building explosion

By The Associated Press

Fire officials are now saying only one person died and a second is in critical condition after an explosion that destroyed part of an industrial building in South Los Angeles.

A tampered gas line is suspected of causing the blast Friday at a business that fabricates security fencing.

Authorities initially thought the blast killed two people — one who was hurled across the street and one who was electrocuted by a downed power line.

But Los Angeles County fire spokesman Erik Scott says the victim who was hurled across the street is hospitalized in grave condition with serious burns. Scott says fire officials at the scene reported the man’s heart had stopped and he had died. Fire personnel later reported he had not died.

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