Virginia: Arlington County House Explodes While Police Serve Search Warrant

A home in Arlington, Virginia, erupted in flames on Monday night following an incident where a man discharged a flare gun from inside the residence during a police investigation, as per authorities, according to NBC News.

Neighbors alerted law enforcement around 4:45 PM, reporting possible gunfire, which was later identified as a flare gun, stated Ashley Savage, spokesperson for the Arlington County police.

Subsequently, at around 8 PM, while officers were executing a search warrant at the location, the individual inside the home fired multiple rounds.

The situation escalated when the house experienced a destructive explosion, with firefighters actively tackling the resulting blaze even past 10 PM.

The condition of the suspect, who was in the residence at the time of the explosion, remains uncertain.

"At this point, we're only aware of one individual who was inside the home," Savage said.

The Virginia House Explosion

The blast occurred in Bluemont, a suburban enclave in north Arlington County characterized by duplex homes accommodating two families each, per Spectrum News 1.

Around 8:20 PM, a powerful explosion resonated through the vicinity, causing a local power outage and igniting flames visible from nearby streets.

Witnesses, including Carla Rodriguez from South Arlington, described the explosion as audible from over 2 miles away.

"I actually thought a plane exploded," Rodriguez, who ventured to the scene, remarked.

A video circulating online captures what seems to be a Swat team vehicle moving toward the residence just as the explosion occurs.

As a precautionary measure, police have evacuated some residents, instructing others to shelter in place, BBC noted.

Eyewitness accounts, such as Jim Mathews', posted on X before the explosion, describe observing several flares.

According to Mathews, these flares appeared to be fired off and lasted approximately 15-20 seconds, with several occurrences happening within a span of about 5 minutes.

Suspect Status Still Unknown, Police Spokesperson Says

Despite having secured a search warrant, Arlington County law enforcement had not entered the residence when the suspect discharged additional shots, leading to the catastrophic explosion, disclosed spokesperson Ashley Savage.

"We have not been able to access the home at this point, so I don't have the status of the suspect," she added, noting the belief that the man was inside during the explosion. The investigation is ongoing.

While minor injuries were reported by officers, no one required hospitalization, The New York Times reported.

Social media footage capturing the incident shows a vehicle with a flashing blue light nearing the Virginia home before a sudden blast dislodges the roof.

The structure swiftly collapses and becomes engulfed in flames, sending debris into the air and triggering a nearby car alarm.

"This is very, very scary, and my profound thanks go out to first responders working to secure the area and keep everyone safe," Representative Don Beyer, a Democrat representing the region, said, expressing concern.

The cause of the Virginia explosion remains unknown, according to Capt. Nate Hiner, a spokesperson for the Arlington Fire Department as per CBS 4.

Federal involvement in the investigation has been confirmed, with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) reporting that federal agents and fire investigators are present at the scene to assist in determining the circumstances surrounding the incident.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

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