Federal gun charges for 2 accused of plotting July 4 attack

By DENISE LAVOIE
AP Legal Affairs Writer

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — With the suspects now facing federal gun charges, a judge has dismissed state gun charges against two men who police said planned a mass shooting in Richmond on the Fourth of July. Neither man has been charged specifically with planning a mass shooting. Julio Alvarado-Dubon and Rolman Balcarcel-Bavagas are both Guatemalan immigrants. They were charged in state court last month with possession of a firearm by a non-U.S. citizen. Richmond police held a news conference to announce that they had thwarted a July 4th mass shooting planned by the men. Richmond Commonwealth’s Attorney Colette McEachin said Wednesday that her office asked federal authorities to take over the case.