Fourth July mass shooting averted in Virginia, 2 suspects arrested

Dogwood Dell amphitheater target of Richmond mass shooting

Dogwood Dell amphitheater target of Richmond mass shooting

A planned Fourth of July mass shooting in Richmond, the Virginian capital, was thwarted by the police after receiving a tip, the police authorities said on Wednesday.

Acting on the tip possibly prevented an attack like the one that left seven dead at a parade outside Chicago.

A 911 caller told authorities of overhearing a plot targeting the Dogwood Dell, a 2,400-seat amphitheater that hosted a Fourth of July celebration and fireworks show, Richmond Chief Gerald Smith said during a press conference.

The tip led Richmond Police officers, along with Homeland Security and FBI agents to a home in the city on July 1, where they arrested a suspect, identified as Julio Alvarado, on gun charges.

They seized two assault rifles, a handgun and 223 rounds of ammunition there.

A second suspect, Rolman Balcarcel, was arrested on July 5 after investigators said they collected enough probable cause in relation to the mass shooting threat.

Both men are non-U.S. citizens who lived in the home where the ammunition and guns were seized.

They are being held at the Richmond City Jail.

No further information about the suspects was available.

While police said they prevented one shooting, Mayor Levar Stoney said at a press conference that there was a attack at Cyber Cafe in downtown Richmond that injured six people during the early hours of July 4.

The shooter remains at large.

Police did not provide details on why they thought a mass shooting was planned.

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