CRIME
Virginia House Explodes As Police Attempt To Execute Search Warrant
Alex Wilson
A house in Virginia exploded on Monday night after the occupant fired a weapon inside the home as authorities tried to execute a search warrant.
The Arlington County Police Department said officers responded to a report of shots fired at a residence on the 800 block of North Burlington Street at around 4:45 p.m. on Monday. Officers learned the occupant fired a flare gun 30–40 times from inside the house into the surrounding neighborhood.
Officers surrounding the home attempted to make contact with the suspect, who had barricaded himself inside, through telephone and loudspeakers, police said. As officers attempted to execute a search warrant, the suspect discharged several rounds, from what is believed to be a firearm, inside the home.
At around 8:25 p.m., there was a sudden explosion. A video shared on social media captured the moment the multistory brick home was completely leveled in a powerful explosion that sent debris flying.
The Arlington County Fire Department was called to the scene, and extinguished the blaze at around 11 p.m.
Three officers reported minor injuries at the scene, but no one was transported to the hospital, police said.
The identity of the suspect had not yet been released early Tuesday, and their condition was still unknown. Police said they believed there was only one individual inside the house.
Virginia Delegate Patrick Hope, who lives nearby with his family, said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, that he could see the explosion from his home.
For all who are checking in- my family and I are fine but our house shook and we could see the flames from our front yard, he wrote. He also thanked emergency responders who are on the scene of a very dangerous situation tonight.
Personnel from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington field office responded to the scene to assist in the investigation. Police said the circumstances surrounding the explosion remain under investigation.
TMX contributed to this article.
