Police in Richmond, Virginia, said advice from “hero citizens” helped prevent two illegal immigrants from carrying out the planned shootings on Independence Day on July 4.
“I heard a conversation about a heroic citizen calling and planning a shooting in Richmond, Virginia,” Richmond Police Chief Gerald Smith said at a press conference Wednesday.
Police are planning an attack by Julio Alvarado Dubon, 52, and Rolman Baracarsel, 38, at the City’s Independence Day celebration and city baseball game at the Dogwood Deli Amphitheater. He said he found evidence.
After the citizens called the tip on July 1, police investigated the suspect’s residence and saw “clear visibility evidence” to support the tip. Police confiscated two semi-automatic rifles, pistols and 223 ammunition from home.
Police arrested Alvarado-Dubon and charged him on Friday for being a non-US citizen in possession of firearms. Alvarado-Dubon’s roommate, Balacarcel, was arrested on Tuesday after police surveillance over the weekend and charged with the same number of cases.
The pair is held without a bond. Both suspects may face additional charges, police said.
Police did not identify the motive for the unsuccessful attack.
“A single phone call saved many lives on July 4,” Smith said Wednesday. “The success of this particular investigation can only be juxtaposed with the horrors seen by the rest of the country. It is unknown how many lives this heroic citizen saved in a single phone call.”
The press conference took place days after gunmen fired at the Independence Day parade in Highland Park, Illinois, killing seven people and injuring dozens.
Editor’s Note: Earlier versions of this story stated that police had seized two assault rifles and 223 ammunition from the suspect’s house. Police subsequently revealed that two semi-automatic firearms and more than 200 ammunition were confiscated.