The July 1 tip was about a man or men “threatening to do a mass shooting on or about July 4,” at the city’s fireworks celebration at Dogwood Dell in Richmond. Chief Smith said officers also focused on the Fourth of July celebration at the Diamond in Richmond. “Their intent was to shoot up our Fourth of July celebration,” Smith said. Chief Smith was unable to provide additional details or provide a motive for the mass shooting. The tip led police to Julio Alvardo and his home in Richmond. “Detectives conducted surveillance at an address associated with the suspect and observed activity,” a police spokesman said. “There was a knock and a conversation and the male was inside.” Police said a search of the home turned up two rifles, a handgun and ammunition from the home. “Unfortunately, the suspect had no weapons in his room and made no incriminating statements,” a police spokesman wrote. “Homeland Security Investigations [HSI] asked about weapons and informed the owner that he is prohibited from possessing any. He was taken to a lockup and charged with possession of an Alien weapon.’ A second suspect was kept under police surveillance throughout the holiday weekend and was taken into custody on July 5. This is a developing story, so anyone with more information can email [email protected] to submit a tip.
title: " Hero Helped Save Lives With July 4Th Mass Shooting Tip " ShowToc: true date: “2022-10-28” author: “Rhonda Burns”
The July 1 tip was about a man or men “threatening to do a mass shooting on or about July 4,” at the city’s fireworks celebration at Dogwood Dell in Richmond. “A subject who I refer to as a hero citizen picked up the phone,” Chief Smith said. “[They] I overheard a conversation that a mass shooting was being planned here in Richmond, VA at our 4th of July celebration at the Dell. Chief Smith said officers also focused on the Fourth of July celebration at the Diamond in Richmond. “Their intent was to shoot up our Fourth of July celebration,” Smith said. Both events took place despite threats being investigated by police. “We had a very robust plan. We were monitoring it. I won’t go into detail about what we did, but I can tell you that the majority of our police department was working in the quarter,” Smith said. . “We knew and we can see what’s going on all over the country. We weren’t just worried about Dogwood Dell. But we also had concerns about the Diamond and the game of baseball as well. Let me be very blunt, this is where these cowards go. Where we gather , that’s where they want to be.” Chief Smith was unable to provide additional details or provide a motive for the mass shooting. The tip led police to Julio Cesar Alvarado-Dubon and his home on Columbia Street in South Richmond. “Detectives conducted surveillance at an address associated with the suspect and observed activity,” a police spokesman said. “There was a knock and a conversation and the male was inside.” WTVR via Richmond Police Police said a July 1 search of the home yielded two rifles, a handgun and 223 rounds of ammunition from the home. “Unfortunately, the suspect had no weapons in his room and made no incriminating statements,” a police spokesman wrote. “Homeland Security Investigations [HSI] asked about weapons and informed the owner that he is prohibited from possessing any. He was taken to a lockup and charged with possession of an Alien weapon.’ Police said they continued their investigation and were monitoring his roommate, Rolman Balacercel. Balacercel was arrested on July 5 in Charlottesville. Chief Smith said police did not have probable cause to arrest Balacercel initially, but officers were ready to move if he attempted to act on the alleged plot. Both men have only been charged with possession of a firearm while not a United States citizen. Neither man, police said, was known to police prior to the current investigation. The chief said investigators don’t yet have details on the plans, but gave high praise to the person who called in the tip. “It came from someone who did the right thing. It came from a hero. We owe a lot of lives to that one person. That’s all I can say right now. He’s a hero,” Chief Smith said. “If you see something, say something. If you hear something, say something.” Police said the July 4 situation is in no way connected to the July 2 shooting of six people on Broad Street in downtown Richmond, nor to the fatal shooting of a man at a West Main Street restaurant. This is a developing story, so anyone with more information can email [email protected] to submit a tip. Watch the entire press conference in the video player below.
