A row home on the 3300 block of Rand Street, an intense fire, and a gunman brought both the fire department and police to the scene.
The fire burned for hours and later two bodies were recovered. The investigation continues.
The roof has collapsed, and the building cordoned off. Authorities secured the Kensington home Saturday night, but it will need to be demolished.
It was the scene of an apparent murder and fire earlier in the day.
"We had a two story row home with heavy fire in the second floor area," said Deputy Fire Chief Michael Wahl.
The fire call came around 11:40am Saturday morning. News of the gunman was radioed in soon after.
Authorities from the police and fire departments entered the first floor of the Kensington row-home together.
"The fire board and police see a man down on the living room floor with a gunshot wound believed to the head," explained Deputy Police Commissioner Richard Ross.
As they moved to take the man off the property on the 3300 block of Rand Street, the fire department noticed a man on the second floor brandishing a gun.
Authorities say he started throwing items at the first responders.
"He went up and down the stairs a few times, but refused to surrender or drop weapon," said Chief Inspector Joe Sullivan.
"Police engage the man, tell him to drop gun; he does not do so. At some point in time, we believe he raised the gun, our officers discharged several times at him, but because of the smoke they were forced to leave the property," said Deputy Commissioner Ross.
With conditions inside deteriorating due to the fire, authorities were forced outside.
SWAT officers surrounded the property in the event the gunman escaped.
The next door home is damaged. The family of four is staying with neighbors until they can return.
A lot of questions remain, among them the identities of the victim and the gunman and their relationship to each other, and if any of the police bullets hit the gunman.
There's also no word if there is a history of criminal activity at that location.
