New details have emerged about the man police attempted to serve with a warrant when his house in Arlington, Virginia exploded.
Law enforcement announced that James Yoo is presumed dead after human remains were found at the Burlington Street address where the deadly explosion took place. The incident occurred around 8:25 p.m. on Dec. 4 and police believe there are no ongoing threats to the public.
Yoo was a 56-year-old who contacted the Federal Bureau of Investigation to report that he was a victim of fraud. He “had gone through a contentious divorce, had a history of alcohol abuse … filing rambling lawsuits,” and “described himself in some of his many court cases as a former security specialist for telecommunications companies,” according to The Washington Post.
“Yoo, who inherited the house from his parents, stated in unsuccessful legal filings over the years that he had long suffered from alcoholism,” the outlet reported.
A standoff began around 4:45 P.M. after Yoo reportedly fired 30 to 40 flares from the window of his home over Fields Park and in the direction of Key Elementary School. No property was damaged and no injuries were reported. Someone in the neighborhood called the police, who arrived at Yoo’s home around 5 p.m. Yoo had barricaded himself inside the home.
Law enforcement secured a search warrant to enter the home and look for weapons. The natural gas line to the building was shut off.
Firefighters evacuated residents from ten households in the area, including the people who lived in the adjoining duplex, thirty minutes before the explosion.
Yoo reportedly opened fire on the tactical unit that opened the front door which in turn prompted officers to deploy what Arlington County Police Chief Andy Penn described as “nonflammable, less-lethal chemical munitions” to areas of the house where they believe the suspect could be hiding.
“The purpose of this type of deployment is to cause irritation in hopes of compelling the suspect to surrender,” Penn said at a press conference on Dec. 5. “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.”
According to freelance journalist Nick Sortor, Yoo had accused his neighbors of being spies on Facebook and had the phrases “F— THA POLICE” and “PURGE THEM” in his LinkedIn bio.
Three officers reported minor injuries following the explosion, but no one was taken to the hospital. Firefighters declared the subsequent blaze was under control around 10:30 p.m.
“I would like to thank the Arlington Community for their support during this time and patience as we complete what will be an extensive and time-consuming investigation,” said Penn in a statement on the evening of Dec. 5. “I also want to express how proud I am of the members of the police department and our public safety partners for their courageous and professional actions to ensure the safety of our community.”
