A body was found in a Connecticut building after an explosion during a standoff with a man who had taken his wife hostage, officials said Thursday.
Trooper Kelly Grant said that nine officers were being treated for non-life-threatening injuries and the remains of one unidentified person was found in a building at the home in North Haven Thursday morning.
Kelly said that a woman had called police to report domestic violence on Wednesday night.
First Selectman Michael Freda said the man had held his wife for three days before a SWAT team arrived on the scene.
“The husband had barricaded his wife in the house and the police department and our surrounding SWAT agencies who support us, they were trying to coax very gently and compassionately the gentleman out of the house and apparently it manifested itself into the explosions.”
Freida said the wife escaped before the explosion. Police were heard continuing to try to coax the man out of the house even after the explosion.
"It's quite surprising," Freda said. "This is a quiet residential neighborhood. It's been a very emotional scene."
Residents near the home said on the police department's Facebook page that they heard the explosion and felt their own homes shake. Additional police rushed to the scene as the fire raged, and sounds of smaller explosions also were heard.
North Haven resident Joan Mazurek, 76, a retired accountant, heard what she thought was a train at her home about a mile away from the scene. It was the explosion.
"Then we heard all the, oh my God, all the ambulances and fire engines. The noise from all the emergency vehicles was unbelievable," she said. "It's a shock. Nothing ever happens like this in North Haven."
The blaze was still burning early Thursday, said fire officials, adding that power was out to the area and a local firehouse had been set up as a "refuge" for affected residents.
State police said they were assisting North Haven police with the investigation. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives also responded to the scene.
North Haven is located just outside of New Haven.
