A duplex in a typically quiet suburban Virginia neighborhood exploded late Monday night, rocketing debris into the air as flames licked the sky and police on the ground scrambled following an attempt to execute a search warrant on the home.
Details around why the Arlington residence went up in such a massive explosion are still being investigated by the Arlington County Police though officers said in a statement Tuesday that they were first dispatched to the property on N. Burlington Street due to “shots heard” in the area.
“The preliminary investigation indicated a suspect discharged a flare gun approximately 30 – 40 times from inside his residence into the surrounding neighborhood,” police said.
Police said they had tried to make contact with the suspect inside the home “through telephone and through loudspeakers” but he was nonresponsive and barricaded himself off inside.
“As officers were attempting to execute the search warrant, the suspect discharged several rounds from what is believed to be a firearm, inside the home,” they said.
It was roughly 8:25 p.m. when the explosion happened. Two hours later, the local fire department had managed to extinguish the blaze.
“Minor injuries” were reported by three officers on the scene, police said, though there were no officers hospitalized.
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A home is seen exploding from a distance, Monday night, Dec. 4, 2023, in Arlington, Va. The Arlington County Police Department said in a statement that the suspect fired several shots inside the home and that an explosion happened. Arlington is located across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. (AP Photo)
Alex Wilson, a local resident who shot footage of the blast on his phone, told Fox affiliate WTTG on Monday night that he was on the roof of his nearby townhome when the house exploded. He had perched there to get a better look, he explained.
“Things seemed to be escalating as the guy inside wasn’t responding and they drove a SWAT truck to the front door. Shots were being fired after that,” Wilson said.
As police were repositioning themselves near a window of the home, “the place just erupted,” he said.
ARLINGTON, VA – DECEMBER 4: View of a fire after explosion, caused by the homeowner firing a flare gun inside, as police were to search the house on Dec. 4, 2023. Credit: mpi34/MediaPunch /IPX
Wilson told WTTG that the explosion knocked out power to the entire block.
It is unclear whether the suspect is still alive or if he has been detained though police said Tuesday he was inside of the home when it erupted.
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