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All officers avoided sustaining severe injuries, but the suspect’s condition remains uncertain after the explosion Monday night, according to a police spokesperson.
Arlington County Fire Department fire and police cars filled the street near the scene of a home explosion on Monday, Dec. 4, 2023, in Arlington, Va. AP Photo/Kevin Wolf
By MATTHEW BARAKAT, Associated Press
December 5, 2023|8:32 AM
ARLINGTON, Va. (AP)– Shortly before an explosion occurred resulting in a duplex being damaged and shaking a Virginia suburb near Washington, D.C., a suspect inside the house discharged a flare gun 30 to 40 times into the neighborhood, prompting a large police response, authorities said Tuesday.
All officers escaped severe injury, but it is unclear what happened to the suspect who was inside when the explosion occurred Monday night, according to Arlington County, Virginia, police spokesperson Ashley Savage.
Authorities were called to the house around 4:45 p.m. following reports of shots being fired. After the initial investigation, it was determined that a suspect had discharged the flare gun from inside the house, causing no property damage or injuries, according to a statement released by the police.
During the police investigation, a search warrant was obtained for the house and multiple attempts to reach the suspect by phone and loudspeakers were made, but the suspect did not respond, officials said.
While officers tried to execute the warrant, the suspect fired several rounds from what is believed to be a firearm inside the house and, as a result, at around 8:30 p.m., there was an explosion, sending flames and debris into the air. Authorities stated that a probe into the circumstances of the explosion is ongoing.
Savage noted that police do not have any evidence indicating that others were in the duplex, but she said the possibility cannot be ruled out.
A home is seen blowing up from a distance, Monday night, Dec. 4, 2023 in Arlington, Va. — AP Photo
The fire was under control around 10:30 p.m., but Arlington County Fire Department teams continued to battle small area fires, officials said early Tuesday. Three officers reported minor injuries, but no one was taken to the hospital.
South Arlington resident Carla Rodriguez said she heard the explosion from more than 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) away and went to the site, but police kept observers blocks away.
“I actually thought a plane took off,” she said.
Bob Maynes thought perhaps a tree had fallen on his house when he heard the explosion.
“I was sitting in my living room watching TV and the whole house shook,” Maynes said. “It wasn’t an earthquake type of shaking, but the whole house shook.”
Arlington is located across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. The explosion occurred in Bluemont, a neighborhood in north Arlington where many of the houses are duplexes.
