Richmond, Virginia’s Julio Alvarado-Dubon, Rolman Balacarcel non-US citizen in possession of a firearm

Neither Julio Alvarado-Dubon, 52, nor Rolman A. Balacarcel, 38, is a citizen of the United States. They are roommates in Richmond, Virginia, USA.

There are reports claiming that Alvarado Dubon and Balacarcel are both illegal immigrants originally from Guatemala. Authorities have yet to confirm these claims.

🚨NEW: Richmond police release the booking photos for the two suspects accused of planning a mass shooting at Dogwood Dell on July 4th.

Both Julio Alvarado-Dubon and Rolman Balacarcel were arrested on the same charge, possession of a firearm by a non US citizen. pic.twitter.com/QVXnelg69g

— Anthony Antoine FOX 26 (@AnthonyTVNews) July 6, 2022

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Alvarado Dubon and Balacarcel allegedly planned to carry out a mass shooting at a Fourth of July celebration at the Dogwood Deli amphitheater in Byrd Park, Richmond and a baseball game in the city on July 4, 2022. On July 1, 2022, an anonymous tipster contacted the Richmond Police Department to report the two non-U.S. citizen’s plan.

After receiving the tip, Richmond Police Department officers initiated an investigation along with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. When they went to Alvarado Dubon and Balacarcel’s residence, they saw evidence in plain view, corroborating the tip, and seized a handgun, two semi-automatic rifles and 223 rounds of ammunition from the residence.

Alvarado-Dubon and Balacarcel were arrested on July 1, 2022 and on July 5, 2022, respectively. They are being held without bond and were each charged with being a non-U.S. citizen in possession of a firearm.

“Public safety is not a responsibility of the police department. It is a responsibility for us all,” Richmond Police Department chief Gerald Smith. “There is no telling how many lives this hero citizen saved from one phone call.”