ARLINGTON, Va. — Hours before a massive explosion destroyed a duplex and shook a Washington, D.C., Virginia suburb, a suspect in his home fired a flare gun 30 to 40 times into the neighborhood, triggering a large police response, officials said Tuesday.
All officers escaped serious injury, but it was unclear what happened to the suspect who was inside when he was leveled by the explosion Monday evening, police spokesperson Ashley Savage said.
Officers went to the home around 4:45 p.m. after receiving reports that shots had been fired. The preliminary investigation showed that a suspect fired the flare gun from his home, but no property damage or injuries were reported, police said in a statement.
While police investigated, they obtained a search warrant for the home and attempted to contact the suspect via telephone and loudspeakers, but he remained inside without responding, police said.
As officers attempted to execute the warrant, police said the suspect fired several rounds from what was believed to be a firearm into the home. Then there was an explosion around 8:30 p.m., sending flames and debris shooting into the air. The circumstances surrounding the explosion are under investigation, police said.
Savage said police do not have any evidence that others were in the duplex, but cannot rule out the possibility.
The fire was under control around 10:30 p.m., but Arlington County Fire Department crews continued to battle small fires, police said early Tuesday. Three officers reported minor injuries, but no one was taken to hospital.
Carla Rodriguez of South Arlington said she could hear the explosion more than 2 miles away and rushed to the scene, but police kept onlookers feet away.
“I actually thought a plane exploded,” she said.
Bob Maynes thought a tree might have fallen on his house when he heard the explosion.
“I was sitting in my living room watching television and the whole house shook,” Maynes said. “It wasn't an earthquake, but the whole house shook.”
Arlington is located across the Potomac River from Washington, DC. The explosion occurred in Bluemont, a neighborhood in north Arlington where many of the homes are duplexes.
Fire officials do not know the cause of the explosion, said Capt. Nate Hiner, a spokesman for the Arlington Fire Department.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said federal agents and federal arson investigators were on scene and assisting in the investigation.