RICHMOND, Virginia – Multiple Crime Insider sources have contacted CBS 6 by raising red flags over what was said at a news conference about an alleged mass shooting plot.
The Richmond police chief said the threat, allegedly scheduled for July 4, was thwarted by investigators after they received a suggestion from a “hero informant.”
Mayor Levar Stoney admitted Friday that he was unaware of the alleged threat until hours after it was supposed to happen.
Mayor Stoney first appeared with DPR chief Gerald Smith at a news conference Wednesday in which they said two suspects had been arrested for planning to attack the July 4 celebration at Dogwood Dell.
WTVR
Celebrated July 4, 2022 at Dell Dogwood in Richmond, Virginia.
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Smith said his agents, who were working with a tip, went to a house on the 3100 block of Columbia Street on July 1 and confiscated rifles, pistols and ammunition.
Julio Alvarado Dubon was arrested that night.
However, several sources told Jon Burkett that the man who had allegedly made the real threat, Rolman Balcarcel, 38, was left inside the Southside home.
A sworn search warrant statement obtained by CBS 6 states that officers encountered Balcarcel during their search and showed them two different Colorado driver’s licenses.
Balcarcel was arrested by state police in the Charlottesville area Tuesday morning.
He and Dubon are now charged with possession of a firearm by a non-US citizen. But nothing to do with planning a mass shooting starting Friday at 5:30 p.m.
WTVR through Richmond Police
Julio Alvardo-Dubon and Rolman Balacarcel
Todd Stone, a CBS 6 legal expert, explained why a judge initially granted bail to Dubon, while the Commonwealth would appeal that decision to a higher court.
“If someone makes a credible marginal threat about a mass shooting, that’s something a prosecutor should skip in a bail hearing in front of a judge, saying, look, you have to keep that person in jail because it’s a threat for the public. If you don’t listen to these tests, the question arises, what tests do they really have? ” Stone explained.
Crime Insider sources told Jon Burkett that Richmond police officers who worked on July 4, including officers stationed at the Dell Dogwood event, were unaware of the evolution of the mass shootings, and added that information from ‘a possible plot was not shared with the surrounding counties.
As of Friday night, Dubon is in Richmond Prison. Balcarcel was detained in Albemarle County, but online records show he is now in the custody of another police agency.
Dubon is scheduled to appear on Monday morning at a bail appeal hearing.
Rely on CBS 6 News and WTVR.com for in-depth coverage of this important local story. Anyone with more information can email newstips@wtvr.com for advice.