What we know about James Yoo, man linked to the Arlington, Virginia home explosion

On Monday night in Arlington, Virginia, a residence exploded while police were attempting to execute a search warrant. The incident resulted in the building erupting in flames with a suspect still present, leading to the evacuation of several neighboring houses, as reported by officials.

• Police were alerted to the residence following reports of a flare gun being discharged from the premises.
• Public records identified James Yoo as the resident of the property.
• Yoo’s LinkedIn posts revealed discriminatory views against white individuals, alleging that they had been stalking him since the 1990s, expressing his beliefs about how he perceived “White people operate.”
• Yoo posted unconventional content on LinkedIn, demonstrating his disdain for the government and law enforcement, along with suspicions that his neighbors were spying on him.
• Yoo took measures to obscure visibility into his residence by covering his windows with aluminum foil.
• Authorities have not yet disclosed the suspect’s name or clarified if there were any other individuals present in the home at the time of the incident.

An investigation is underway to determine the circumstances surrounding the explosion, which occurred as law enforcement sought to make contact with the individual inside.

According to Arlington County Police Department spokesperson Ashley Savage, authorities suspect the man had discharged a flare gun from his home earlier in the day.

Officers had initially responded to reports of shots fired in the vicinity of the residence on the 800 block of N. Burlington Street shortly before 5 p.m., according to a police statement released early Tuesday.

Subsequently, police discovered that the suspect had discharged the flare gun approximately 30 to 40 times from his residence into the surrounding neighborhood, as outlined in the police statement.

In the course of the investigation, officers secured a search warrant for the suspect’s dwelling and endeavored to establish contact through both telephone and loudspeakers. However, the suspect remained unresponsive and barricaded within the residence, as stated in the release.

While officers were attempting to execute the warrant, the suspect discharged several rounds, presumed to be from a firearm, within the home. Following these events, around 8:25 p.m., the residence experienced an explosion, according to the police.

A witness’s video captures law enforcement vehicles encircling a multi-story residence, followed by a sudden fiery explosion. The blast sends a towering column of flames, embers, and smoke into the air, with debris cascading down onto the street.

The explosion’s impact shatters the roof and multiple walls, resulting in the collapse of the structure. The suspect, who was inside the residence during the explosion, is the only known individual, as per information provided by Savage. The current status of the suspect’s well-being remains uncertain.

Three officers sustained minor injuries, and fortunately, no one required hospitalization, as reported by the police. As of approximately 10:30 p.m., the Arlington Fire Department successfully gained control over the blaze, though they were still addressing lingering small spot fires, according to police statements.

Captain Nate Hiner from the Arlington Fire Department mentioned that the fire department was awaiting the arrival of a utility company to secure the utilities before firefighters could proceed further into the structure.

Numerous homes were evacuated following the explosion, as stated by Hiner on Monday night, although he did not specify an exact count.

Hiner explained, “Once the fire is successfully contained, and there is no longer a threat or risk of it spreading to nearby structures, neighbors will be allowed to return based on the situation’s assessment.”

The FBI’s Washington, DC, field office was aiding local police in addressing the aftermath of the explosion, as confirmed by the agency. The location of the home explosion is approximately 5 miles from prominent landmarks such as the Pentagon in the nation’s capital.