Suspect Dead After Firing Flare Gun and Causing House Explosion in Arlington, Virginia

The local police in Arlington, Virginia, have confirmed that the suspect who fired at officers while they were attempting to execute a search warrant is believed to be dead. This announcement comes following a shocking incident that took place on Monday (Dec 4), when a house in the county exploded after being surrounded by law enforcement officers.

Suspect Identified as James Yoo

The suspect who is believed to have fired the flare gun has been identified as 56-year-old James Yoo, according to Arlington County Police Chief, Andy Penn.

James Yoo is not only the owner of the duplex, but he is also suspected of firing a “flare-type gun” from inside the house more than 30 times, as stated by the police.

Authorities were initially called to the scene at around 4:45 pm (local time) on Monday, following reports of a man firing a flare gun from inside the residence located on the 800 block of North Burlington Street. After unsuccessful attempts to establish contact with Yoo, the police obtained a search warrant.

At approximately 8:30 pm (local time), as officers were preparing to execute the search warrant and enter the premises, multiple gunshots were fired from inside the house. Subsequently, the house exploded, as confirmed by Police Chief Penn.

The officers in the vicinity sustained minor injuries but did not require hospitalization. The police also evacuated nearby residents, including those residing in the other part of the duplex, at around 7:00 pm (local time).

Firefighters managed to bring the fire under control by approximately 10:30 pm (local time), according to media reports. Nate Hiner, a spokesperson for the Arlington Fire Department, stated that the exact cause of the explosion is still unknown.

Human Remains Yet to be Identified

Although investigators have discovered human remains inside the house, they have not yet been able to identify them. However, all indications point to the remains belonging to James Yoo, according to Police Chief Penn.

Arlington County Police spokesperson Ashley Savage mentioned that it remains unclear what happened to the suspect during the blast. She also added that no evidence has been found to suggest that others were present in the duplex, although the possibility cannot be ruled out.

Images and videos capturing the incident depict the moment the house erupted in flames, while police vehicles were seen outside the brick building. The explosion created a loud noise that was heard several kilometers away, causing damage to approximately 10 houses.

Carla Rodriguez, a resident of South Arlington, described the blast as a sound resembling that of a plane exploding. Upon hearing the noise, Rodriguez rushed to the scene to investigate.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has dispatched federal agents and fire investigators to assist the local authorities. The White House spokesperson also confirmed on Tuesday that they are closely monitoring the developments.

‘Concerning Social Media Posts’

Officials investigating the incident have revealed that James Yoo had allegedly made “concerning social media posts.” These posts included publicly expressing grievances against several individuals in his life, such as his neighbors and a former co-worker on LinkedIn.

According to the Associated Press, the 56-year-old had filed four lawsuits between 2018 and 2022 against his ex-wife, younger sister, a moving company, and the New York Supreme Court. All of these cases were eventually dismissed.

Furthermore, Yoo had been in contact with the FBI over a number of years, reporting complaints through phone calls, online tips, and letters, as confirmed by Washington Field Office Assistant Director David Sundberg.

(With inputs from agencies)