House explodes after man fires flare gun more than 30 times while barricaded in his house
12/06/2023 5:23 pm PST
ARLINGTON, Va. (TCD) -- Police are investigating a home explosion after a man barricaded himself inside Monday evening and fired a flare gun at least 30 times.
On Dec. 4 at 4:45 p.m., Arlington Police Department officers were called to a home on the 800 block of North Burlington Street because neighbors reported hearing apparent gunshots . When police arrived, they learned the homeowner, James Yoo, "discharged a flare gun approximately 30 to 40 times from inside his residence into the surrounding neighborhood."
Arlington Police said there were no injuries or damage to nearby homes.
Detectives obtained a search warrant to enter Yoo’s home and tried to contact him via phone and loudspeaker. Yoo, however, did not respond.
In a press conference, Arlington Police Chief Andy Penn said officers deployed chemical munitions inside the residence, which are used to "to cause irritation, compelling the suspect to surrender."
Yoo still refused to surrender.
The other residents who lived in Yoo’s duplex had been evacuated.
When officers attempted to execute the search warrant, Yoo reportedly shot at police with a firearm. At 8:25 p.m., the house exploded.
Video of the explosion. Hope everyone was out of the house#Arlington #ballston @ARLnowDOTcom @RealTimeNews10 pic.twitter.com/JSZE7LkoTD
— c “” maj (@connormaj) December 5, 2023 @connormaj
Video taken by bystander Alex Wilson and posted on social media showed the house bursting into a fireball as a SWAT truck drives toward the door. After the blast, car alarms went off and dogs started barking.
Other images posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, show debris and parts of the home that were destroyed in the blast.
On Tuesday, Dec. 5, Arlington Police said investigators located human remains inside the home they believe are Yoo’s. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will conduct an autopsy to confirm cause and manner of death.
Police do not have any prior incidents with Yoo except for two service calls over the last several years about loud noises.
According to Penn, investigators were made "aware of concerning social media posts allegedly made by the suspect," which will be analyzed as the investigation continues.
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