Man Charged Federally for Firing Rifle from Dallas Bridge on New Year's Eve

Authorities say the suspect was in the country illegally and had multiple firearms.

Jan. 31, 2026 at 9:47pm

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Federal authorities have charged Jose Raul Alarcon Sanchez, a man seen in a viral video firing an AR-style rifle from the Margaret McDermott Bridge in Dallas on New Year's Eve, with illegally possessing a firearm while in the U.S. without legal status. Police recovered over 100 shell casings from the bridge, and a subsequent search of Alarcon Sanchez's vehicle and home uncovered several additional firearms, including AR-15-style pistols.

Why it matters

The incident on the Dallas bridge raised significant public safety concerns, as the gunfire occurred while traffic was stopped on the interstate just after midnight on New Year's Eve. The federal charges against Alarcon Sanchez, who authorities say entered the country on a temporary visa that expired, highlight issues around illegal firearms possession and immigration status.

The details

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Alarcon Sanchez and another individual took turns filming each other firing rifles over the interstate from the bridge. Police recovered over 100 shell casings on and beneath the bridge. A search of Alarcon Sanchez's vehicle found live rounds and an AK-47-style rifle, and a later search of his home uncovered several additional firearms, including three AR-15-style pistols that matched ballistic evidence from the New Year's Eve shooting.

  • On New Year's Eve, Alarcon Sanchez and another individual were seen firing rifles from the Margaret McDermott Bridge in Dallas.
  • On January 28, federal agents searched Alarcon Sanchez's home and located several firearms, including ones that matched the ballistic evidence from the bridge incident.

The players

Jose Raul Alarcon Sanchez

A man who was charged federally with illegally possessing a firearm while in the U.S. without legal status after being seen in a viral video firing a rifle from a Dallas bridge on New Year's Eve.

U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Texas

The federal prosecutors who charged Alarcon Sanchez with the firearms violation.

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What’s next

A court date for Alarcon Sanchez's first appearance before a federal magistrate has not yet been set.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing challenges around illegal firearms possession and immigration status, and the potential public safety risks when these issues intersect, as seen in the New Year's Eve incident on the Dallas bridge.