A house just outside of Washington, D.C., exploded as a S.W.A.T. team was in the process of staging an assault — fortunately none of the officers were seriously injured.
Officers responded to a home in Arlington, Va., Monday afternoon after a report of shots being fired, Fox 5 DC reported. The suspect had reportedly fired 30-40 flares into the surrounding neighborhood, and police obtained a search warrant for the home and were attempting to enter the dwelling when it went up in a ball of flames.
The massive explosion and ensuing fireball can be seen in a video posted on social media:
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
While attempting to execute the warrant, the suspect opened fire on the officers with what a witness described as a “high-caliber weapon.”
“The guy inside wasn’t responding and they drove a S.W.A.T. truck through the front door and then shots were being fired,” Alex Wilson told the affiliate.
“At that point, they reversed back and they changed the angle of the truck and they were going to try to take out the window, the front window there,” he continued. “They tell him to back up from the window and, at that point, they were driving forward to the window and that’s when the whole place went up.”
Tonight’s interview with the man who shot the video you have seen of that massive explosion out of Arlington, VA.@NSBonsu_ speaking exclusively with him tonight. Watch him at 11pm on @fox5dc pic.twitter.com/LQRMBgIoau
— Marina Marraco (@MarinaMarraco) December 5, 2023
The home appeared to be completely destroyed by the blast.
Arlington County Police Department said in a tweet asking residents to avoid the area that officers were “investigating a suspect who has discharged a flare gun from his 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,” ACPD said in a statement. “The suspect did not respond and remained barricaded inside the residence.”
“As officers were attempting to execute a search warrant at the residence, the suspect discharged several rounds inside the home,” the statement added. “Subsequently, an explosion occurred at the residence and officers continue to investigate the circumstances of the explosion.”
UPDATE: As officers were attempting to execute a search warrant at the residence, the suspect discharged several rounds inside the home. Subsequently, an explosion occurred at the residence and officers continue to investigate the circumstances of the explosion.
— ArlingtonCountyPD (@ArlingtonVaPD) December 5, 2023
There was plenty of speculation by social media users — and a lot of sarcasm — over what happened.
Here’s a quick sampling of responses to the story, as seen on X:
Swat calling in airstrikes now?
— Amanda Jean (@AJAmmirabilis) December 5, 2023
If I had to guess, the guy filled the house, intentionally, with natural gas.
— Jonathan Bowen (@BostonByBirth) December 5, 2023
Got to use Red FireCode Drywall to prevent that sort of thing.
— DC, Last Legion, Infinity Redux (@DerektheCleric) December 5, 2023
That’s why you never fry a frozen turkey in your house!
— dirtyjerz (@gingerwittasoul) December 5, 2023
What the heck was in that house?!
— Jen (@AZTVChick) December 5, 2023
Behold the power of a single AR-15 round.
— JO1Minute (@JustOneMinuteEN) December 5, 2023
that’s a very convenient explosion eh? before arresting the house owner? there must be a valuable piece of evidence planted in there
— naomi ✨ (@iamnaaomixx) December 5, 2023
Meth lab? It felt like it was right down the street from us.
— Elle (@_southern_elle) December 5, 2023
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Tom Tillison grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a young teen. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills. Tillison also contributes to BizPac Review.
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