Investigators say man blew up Arlington house on purpose, new video released (2024)

ARLINGTON, Va. — Investigators have confirmed that a man intentionallyblew up his home in Arlingtonin December of 2023, leading to his death.

The homeowner, 56-year-old James Yoo, used gasoline and an unknown ignition source to spark the fire that caused the explosion. The explosion was felt by neighbors miles away.

On Friday, six months after the deadly explosion, Arlington County officials held a new conference to share more details as well as new body-camera footage of the explosion from officers' perspective.

A full video showing the timeline of events leading up to and after the explosion was shared with the public.

The whole ordeal began when an officer in the area heard what sounded like someone shooting. When he went to investigate, he discovered several frightened people by Fields Park.

A child can be heard on his body-worn camera footage saying "I'm scared, I don't want you to go." The officer says he will go stop it.

More and more reports of the sound of gunfire or fireworks started coming into the police department at this point.

It was later determined flares were being fired from the back window of a duplex on North Burlington Street.

The flares landed near Fields Park, Escuela Key Elementary School, and North George Mason Drive.

Officers responded to the home and attempted to make contact with the owner, later identified as James Yoo, but got no response.

Yoo continued to shoot flares and remained barricaded inside the home.

Officers eventually evacuated the neighboring unit in the duplex.

Yoo then became the only person remaining on the property.

During police investigation, neighbors told officers Yoo was reclusive and had recently covered his windows with black trash bags, thrown trash bags into the backyard from a window, and strewn toilet paper on trees outside the home.

A relative of Yoo told police that he had a history of mental illness but had refused to ever be evaluated or treated for symptoms including psychosis, catatonic behavior, and paranoia. The family member also said Yoo was hostile towards law enforcement and government agencies and had posted these feelings on various social media platforms.

This is when police got a search warrant for the home in order to recover any weapons.

Just as officers tried to serve the warrant and get inside the home from an armored vehicle, gunshots were heard from inside.

Negations continued and Yoo refused to surrender. Police eventually deployed tear gas and pepper spray, to no avail.

When officers tried to get in through a window, the house exploded.

The explosion was captured on camera by officers in front and behind the home. Several homes were evacuated following the explosion.

The entire ordeal is said to have lasted nearly four hours.

A total of 15 fire units and 60 firefighters responded to combat the flames after the explosion.

The following day, on Dec. 5, human remains belonging to Yoo were discovered where the house once stood. In addition, items including gasoline canisters, three guns, two flare guns, magazines, ammunition and flares were recovered.

Although no one was immediately taken for help after the explosion, several first responders were treated for injuries in the weeks following.

Investigators say Yoo acted alone and that the explosion was an isolated incident.

Another neighbor who spoke to police said he thought something was off when he noticed a large quantity of charcoal, lighter fluid, and bleach being delivered to the house a week before the explosion.

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