TEMPE, Ariz. — The Tempe home at the center of a local and federal investigation is a frequent target of police activity, neighbors tell 12News.
That home along E Del Rio Dr. in south Tempe had U.S. Marshals sprawling outside it on Thursday afternoon as they were there to serve an arrest warrant on someone inside the home.
U.S. Marshals say the person they were there to arrest had multiple warrants for their arrest, including for burglary, trafficking in stolen property, and felony flight out of Chandler. They also had an active probation violation warrant from Maricopa County.
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A nearby home security system captured several Marshals taking cover behind an SUV as shots rang out.
“I hunkered down in my office there, and it just got crazier from there," said Bob, who lives near the home.
Bob is referring to the home going up in flames moments after that barrage of gunfire.
“We're hearing popping noises. Not sure what that was, but definitely something was popping while the fire was going on. It was very intense," Bob said.
We still do not know how the fire started. The U.S. Marshals did not release any additional information on Friday. They also did not respond to a question 12News posed after speaking with several neighbors.
The neighbors say a similarly loud explosion came from the garage of that same home four months ago. Stanley, who lives five houses down, recalled what he saw and felt back in March.
“There was this explosion, and it shook me. I mean, I felt it with my feet, and then there's big black smoke, a big plume going up from that house," Stanley said.
The U.S. Marshals have not confirmed if this explosion happened and which law enforcement agency may have responded to it. Dozens of investigators were combing the scene on Friday, making trips in and out of the house.
12News is told the East Valley Task Force, encompassing several local law enforcement agencies, will be investigating the shooting to determine if it is justified.
The suspect wanted on multiple warrants has not been identified. The U.S. Marshals say they haven't done so because their family members still need to be notified.
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