An Emergency Response Team from the Arlington County (Virginia) Police was servimh a search warrant Monday when shots were fired in the house and the house exploded into a massive fireball that sent debris across the neighborhood, caused minor injuries to three officers, and damaged 10 to 12 other residences.
Arlington County Police Chief Andy Penn said police responded to the location around 4:45 p.m. Monday over complaints that the resident had fired 30 shots from a flare gun into the surrounding area.
A search warrant was secured and the department’s ERT unit was called out to deliver it Penn said at a Tuesday press conference.
The man inside the duplex residence was reportedly non-compliant and officers unsuccessfully attempted to communicate with him. Officers then deployed non-flammable chemical munitions into the home. The suspect reportedly fired shots from a firearm, according to Chief Penn, and then the house exploded.
Arlington County firefighters were on scene and worked through the night to extinguish the flames.
Chief Penn said that one set of human remains was found in the ruins of the duplex and is presumed to be the suspect.
Residents of the other side of the duplex and other homes nearby had been evacuated by firefighters. Arlington County Fire Chief David Politz said. No neighbors were injured.
Fire Chief Politz added that the gas to the duplex had been shut off at the main by firefighters prior to the explosion. He said the action had been taken as a standard precaution. He would not speculate on the cause of the explosion and said the investigation would not have a timeline.
The suspect has been identified as James Yoo, 56. Yoo was not on police radar for any criminal activity, Chief Penn said.
Fox 5 DC reports that Yoo had a history of inflammatory anti-American social media posts and frivolous lawsuits. On his social media profile, Yoo described himself as “Former Head of Information and Physical Security for international telecommunication company.”
The investigation of the incident is being conducted by the Northern Virginia Critical Incident Response Team, the Arlington County Fire Marshal, the FBI, and the ATF.
Law enforcement officials indicated that the evidence collection process would take time as debris from the explosion came down across the neighborhood.
