Dallas police have arrested three men in connection with separate gun-violence incidents, including two suspects caught on viral video firing weapons from the Margaret McDermott Bridge during New Year’s Eve celebrations.
Anthony Acevedo, 20, and Jose Alarcon-Sanchez, 18, both from Grand Prairie, were taken into custody after investigators recovered more than 100 shell casings from the scene where the men allegedly fired weapons into the air as 2023 came to a close. The incident, which was captured on video and widely shared on social media, prompted an intensive investigation by Dallas police working alongside federal authorities.
Multiple Arrests in Separate Gun Violence Cases
In a press conference announcing the arrests, Dallas Police Chief Daniel Comeaux didn’t mince words about those who come to Dallas to create havoc. “These individuals did not live in Dallas, but they came to Dallas to create this criminal activity,” Comeaux stated while addressing reporters.
The arrests weren’t limited to the New Year’s Eve bridge incident. In a separate case, 25-year-old Anderson Derce Lara now faces six counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after allegedly firing into a vehicle carrying three adults and three children during what investigators described as a road-rage incident in November.
“If you put lives at risk in Dallas, we will identify you, investigate thoroughly, and hold you accountable,” Chief Comeaux warned during the announcement, which included Deputy Chief William Griffith and Assistant Chief Samuel Sarmiento.
What made these arrests possible? A joint operation with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) that recovered multiple firearms, including the specific rifles seen in the viral New Year’s Eve bridge footage that had alarmed local residents and city officials.
Crackdown on Dangerous Behavior
The New Year’s Eve incident on the I-30 bridge particularly concerned authorities because of its brazen nature — the suspects openly firing weapons in a public space during celebrations, with the potential for injury or worse as bullets inevitably return to earth.
Both suspects from the bridge shooting hail from Grand Prairie, a fact that didn’t escape Chief Comeaux’s attention as he emphasized the importance of holding accountable those who cross city lines to engage in criminal activity.
The road rage case involving Lara appears equally disturbing to investigators. With six people — half of them children — in the targeted vehicle, the November incident could have ended in tragedy.
Dallas police officials made it clear that these arrests represent part of a broader effort to address gun violence in the city, particularly instances of random or celebratory gunfire that endanger innocent bystanders.
For residents of Dallas heading into 2024, the message from law enforcement seems unmistakable: whether it’s celebratory gunfire or road rage incidents, those who recklessly endanger public safety will face consequences — regardless of which side of the city limits they call home.
