Skip to content

Condition: Post with Page_List

Listen
Search
Please enter at least 3 characters.

Latest Stories

Richmond PD Says Tip Stopped July 4th Mass Shooting

Two Undocumented Immigrants in Custody

Richmond Police Chief Gerald Smith
Richmond Police Chief Gerald Smith
Matt Demlein, WRVA

Richmond, Va. (Newsradiowrva.com) - Richmond Police say a tip prevented what they believe was going to be a mass shooting at Richmond's Fourth of July Celebration at Dogwood Dell. Officers have arrested two undocumented immigrants from Guatemala and charged both with being non-U.S. citizens in posession of firearms.

Chief Gerald Smith says after they received the tip, officers went to a home on Columbia Street and found guns and ammunition. They arrested Julio Alvarado on July 2nd and Rolman Balacercel on July 5th. The second arrest wasn't until after the holiday because Smith says they didn't have probable cause until then.


Smith says they did keep Barcercel under observation during the holiday. Additional charges are possible depending on where the investigation leads, according to Smith.

Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney also spoke during the press conference and called for tougher gun laws. Despite this potential incident being broken up, there were multiple other shooting in the city this week, including a fatal one on Main Street. Six people were also wounded on Broad Street over the holiday weekend.

Two Undocumented Immigrants in Custody