Suspect identified in Arlington standoff ending in home explosion
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Workers survey the home that exploded in Arlington, Virginia, on Dec. 4. Photo: Stefani Reynolds/AFP/Getty Images
An Arlington man who engaged police in a standoff Monday night before his home exploded is presumed dead, officials say.
Driving the news: Police during a Tuesday press conference identified him as 56-year-old James Yoo. Arlington County property records list Yoo as the owner of the house.
- Yoo was inside the duplex in the Bluemont neighborhood when the explosion occurred, said Arlington County police chief Andy Penn. While human remains found on-site are being investigated, Yoo is believed to be dead, per Penn.
Catch up fast: Police were originally dispatched to Yoo's home Monday at 4:45pm due to reports of shots heard, according to a statement from the Arlington County Police Department.
- When they arrived, they determined Yoo had been shooting a flare gun from the home into the neighborhood.
- Officers obtained a search warrant to look for weapons in the home and tried to make contact with Yoo, but he remained inside and incommunicative, says Penn.
- After officers heard what appeared to be gunshots, they deployed "non-flammable less-lethal chemical munitions" into the home to try to coerce Yoo out, adds Penn.
- The home exploded around 8:25pm.
No one outside the home was seriously injured, said Penn. Residents nearby were evacuated, while others were asked to shelter in place.
- At this point, "there is no ongoing threat to the community related to this incident and no outstanding suspects," Penn mentioned on Tuesday.
Context: Yoo posted conspiracy theories on LinkedIn about the media, government, and his neighbors, reports CNN.
- "We are aware of concerning social media posts allegedly made by the suspect, and these will be reviewed as part of the ongoing criminal investigation," Penn said.
- Additionally, Yoo had for years communicated with the FBI via phone, online tips, and letters, which were largely complaints about "alleged frauds he believed were perpetrated against him," said David Sundberg, assistant director in charge of the FBI's Washington field office.
Zoom in: About 10 Arlington households were affected by the incident, deputy county manager Aaron Miller said at the Tuesday press conference.
- The county is providing them with housing, necessities, and mental health counseling services, he adds.
What we're watching: Officials are investigating the cause and origin of the explosion.
- The area surrounding the 800 block of North Burlington Street will remain closed for the foreseeable future, per Miller.