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By MATTHEW BARAKAT
Arlington, Virginia (AP)– A major explosion rocked a duplex in the Washington, D.C, suburb on Monday, as police investigated reports of gunshots fired, causing the home to collapse, according to Arlington County, Virginia, police spokesperson Ashley Savage.
The police officers had arrived at the home at about 4:45 p.m. to investigate the reports of gunshots fired and discovered that the shots had come from a flare gun. Subsequently, a search warrant was obtained for the home.
When the police returned to execute the warrant, the suspect fired multiple rounds inside the house, causing a massive explosion just before 8:30 p.m., said Savage. The blast sent flames and debris into the air.
It is uncertain whether the rounds were fired from a flare gun or a firearm. Cops, while not having any evidence to support the presence of others inside the duplex, did not rule out the possibility of any other occupants.
When the explosion happened, Carla Rodriguez, who was located two miles away, arrived at the scene and was stopped by the police, who had cordoned off the area. “I really thought an airplane took off,” she said. “It was that loud.”
Bob Maynes, who thought a tree had fallen on his home, commented, “I was sitting in my living room watching TV and the whole house shook,” he said.
Arlington is situated across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. The explosion took place in Bluemont, a neighborhood in North Arlington, where many of the homes are duplexes.
Fire officials do not yet know the cause of the explosion, said Capt. Nate Hiner, a spokesperson for the Arlington Fire Department.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives stated that federal agents and federal fire investigators were at the site and assisting in the investigation.
