Police in Arlington will hold a press conference Tuesday afternoon about the Monday evening explosion that leveled a house in the D.C. suburbs while an armed suspect was barricaded in the home.
The 2:30 p.m. press conference outside Arlington County police headquarters is expected to cover law enforcement’s attempt to execute a search warrant on the home of an armed suspect in the Bluemont neighborhood that ended when a massive blast destroyed the duplex-style residence.
“During the course of the investigation, officers obtained a search warrant for the suspect’s residence and attempted to make contact with the suspect over the telephone and through loudspeakers,” Arlington County police said in a statement. “The suspect did not respond and remained barricaded inside the residence,”
Authorities said the suspect opened fire on responding officers with what was believed to be a firearm after police tried to make contact with the person.
Police said the home exploded around 8:25 p.m.
Authorities confirmed the suspect, who wasn’t identified, was inside the house at the time. No further update on the suspect’s condition was provided.
PHOTOS: Massive explosion destroys Arlington, VA home with armed suspect inside
A bystander video of the incident appears to show police approaching the home in an armored vehicle when the blast went off.
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
The entire home appeared to be demolished in the explosion, according to the video. The blast was heard throughout the sprawling suburban county.
“I was sitting in my living room watching television and the whole house shook,” Bob Maynes told The Associated Press. “It wasn’t an earthquake kind of tremor, but the whole house shook.”
U.S. Rep. Don Beyer, a Democrat representing Arlington County and other parts of northern Virginia, wrote on X, “This is very, very scary, and my profound thanks go out to first responders working to secure the area and keep everyone safe.”
Police haven’t said what caused the explosion.
Three officers suffered minor injuries during the explosion, according to authorities.
Law enforcement was originally called to the residence in the 800 block of N. Burlington Street around 4:45 p.m. over reports of a person firing a flare gun inside the home and into the neighborhood.
Police said the suspect fired the flare gun 30 to 40 times, but no injuries or property damage were reported.
The fire was brought under control by 10:30 p.m. Monday.
Arlington police and the FBI are continuing to investigate the explosion.