On Monday night, a residence in Arlington, Va., was engulfed in flames following a standoff and reported gunfire involving the homeowner. Arlington County Police Department responded to the scene around 4:45 p.m. after receiving reports of gunfire. They discovered that the homeowner had reportedly fired a flare gun numerous times, both inside his house and into the neighborhood.
The police secured a search warrant and attempted to contact the individual through phone calls and loudspeakers, but he remained unresponsive and barricaded inside. As officers were about to execute the search warrant, the man fired several shots from within the house, believed to be from a firearm. This was followed by a significant explosion at 8:25 p.m.
AdvertismentsAs of early Tuesday, the identity and condition of the man inside were still unknown. The police advised the public to steer clear of the area, which is a densely populated suburb featuring parks, restaurants, and schools. Ashley Savage, a spokesperson for the Arlington County Police Department, stated they hadn’t yet accessed the house and thus couldn’t confirm the man’s status, though he was presumed to be inside at the time of the explosion. The investigation into the incident is ongoing.
The police reported that three officers sustained minor injuries in the incident, but none required hospitalization.
A video circulating on social media shows a vehicle with a flashing blue light nearing the house just as a loud explosion tears off its roof. Immediately, the house collapses and bursts into flames, scattering debris and triggering a car alarm nearby.
By 10:30 p.m., firefighters were addressing residual spot fires, although the main blaze was under control, as per the police. No injuries or damage related to the earlier flare gun use were reported.
Congressman Don Beyer, a Democrat representing the area, commented on the situation via social media, expressing alarm and gratitude towards the first responders for their efforts in securing the area and ensuring public safety.
The FBI Washington Field Office and the ATF’s Washington Field Division are assisting in the investigation.
Certified Fire Investigators are ready and on scene to support our law enforcement partners @ArlingtonVaFD and @ArlingtonVaPD during this active fire scene. #WeAreATF #ATF pic.twitter.com/CwH0U3XPJs
— ATF Washington (@ATFWashington) December 5, 2023
