2023-12-05 06:58:02
ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — A massive explosion at a home where police were investigating reports of gunshots rocked a Washington, D.C., suburb Monday night, destroying the home.
No officers suffered serious injuries, but it was unclear what happened to the suspect who was inside the home, said Ashley Savage, a spokeswoman for Arlington County, Virginia, police.
Officers responded to the scene around 4:45 p.m. following receiving reports of shots fired. They later determined they came from a flare gun, Savage said. As police investigated, they obtained a search warrant for the home.
When they later attempted to execute the order, the suspect fired several shots inside the house and the explosion occurred shortly before 8:30 p.m. Flames and debris shot into the air, according to police.
It was unclear whether the shots were fired from a flare gun or a firearm, Savage said. Police had no indication that there were other people in the property but might not rule out that possibility, he added.
Carla Rodriguez of South Arlington said she heard the explosion more than 2 miles (3 kilometers) away and went to see the scene, but police had kept onlookers several blocks away.
“I really thought a plane had exploded,” he said.
Bob Maynes thought maybe a tree had fallen on his house when he heard the explosion.
“I was sitting in my living room watching TV and the whole house shook,” Maynes said. “It wasn’t a tremor like an earthquake, but the whole house shook.”
Arlington is separated from Washington DC by the Potomac River. The explosion occurred in Bluemont, a neighborhood in north Arlington where there are many semi-detached homes.
Firefighters did not know the cause of the explosion, said Capt. Nate Hiner, Arlington fire spokesman.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said federal agents and federal fire investigators were at the scene and assisting in the investigation.
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