A conspiracy theorist intentionally bombed a Virginia home as authorities were trying to execute a search warrant in December, according to new video released by law enforcement.
James Yu, 56, poured gasoline on his Arlington home and set it on fire, causing a huge explosion that was reportedly heard for miles around. WUSA9 reportsYoo was found dead inside the building the following day.
Six months later, on Saturday, Arlington County officials Further details revealed He spoke about the deadly explosion and shared body camera footage from officers at the scene that captured the dramatic moment the blast completely destroyed the home.
Authorities said an officer on patrol was in the area on Dec. 4 when he heard what sounded like a gunshot. The officer then encountered the children at a nearby park, who were heard to say they were “scared,” according to body camera footage.
Officers heard more reports of shots fired and discovered a man had fired a flare from behind a window in the two-story home.
Officers tried to make contact with Yu at his brick home, but he refused to open the door and continued to fire flares, the video shows.
He fired more than 40 flares in about 25 minutes while barricaded inside the building.
Officers remained at the home for two hours, and neighbors told officers that Yoo was “reclusive” and had recently covered his windows with black garbage bags, dumped trash in his backyard and covered trees on his property with toilet paper, authorities said.
Police learned from relatives that Yoo had a history of mental illness, obtained a search warrant to retrieve weapons from the house, and more officers and negotiators arrived at the house. They told Yoo to turn himself in, but he refused.
The video shows an armored vehicle driving into the driveway and breaching the front door. Several gunshots can be heard from inside the home, and officers on the scene duck for cover. Police then spray tear gas inside the house in the hope that Yoo will finally surrender, but to no avail.
“James… I want you to come out slowly with your hands up,” an officer can be heard yelling into the home in the video.
Just as police were about to break a window, the house suddenly exploded, sending debris flying in all directions.
After police made sure all emergency responders were safe, officers could be seen banging on the doors of nearby residents and evacuating them. Yoo’s house continues to burn.
The next day, Mr Yoo’s body was found where his house once stood. Investigators also found a gasoline can, three guns, two flare cartridges, magazines, ammunition and spent flare cartridges at the scene.
Before his apparent suicide, Yu had reportedly posted delusional rants on social media against neighbours and former colleagues on a now-defunct LinkedIn account.
He spread rambling and sometimes incoherent conspiracy theories about government officials, law enforcement, the media and his neighbors, accusing them of being spies and collecting personal information about him for unspecified persons. CNN reported:.
Yoo also filed suit against his ex-wife, his sister, the moving company and the New York State Supreme Court for putting him in the hospital against his will. The suit was dismissed as frivolous.
