A man who was caught on video firing a gun off a Dallas bridge has been sentenced to 35 months in federal prison, according to the United States Attorney’s Office.
In a statement Monday, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould announced the sentence against Jose Raul Alarcon Sanchez.
Alarcon Sanchez, a Mexican national, was arrested after a video was released showing him firing off an assault-style rifle from the Margaret McDermott Bridge on New Year’s Day. Alarcon Sanchez was charged and sentenced for unlawfully possessing a firearm as an illegal alien.
“Spraying rifle fire off a downtown bridge is a lawless act that puts our Dallas residents at risk. This sentence makes clear that anyone who turns a celebration into a crime scene will face swift and serious federal consequences,” U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould said. “We will not tolerate violent, brazen conduct that endangers the public, and we will continue to use every federal tool available to protect North Texans.”
On Jan. 5, Dallas police officers recovered significant ballistic evidence at the scene of the shooting that matched cartridge casings and ammunition that were taken from Alarcon Sanchez following his arrest. He was arrested that same day in Grand Prairie following a separate ‘shots fired’ call.
Officers recovered multiple guns and his passport during a search warrant at Alarcon Sanchez’s home on Jan. 28. The passport confirmed he had overstayed a temporary visitor visa issued in May 2025.
Investigators also found several social media photos and videos posted by Alarcon Sanchez days before and immediately after the New Year’s shooting that showed him holding and firing the same AR-style rifles.
U.S. District Judge David C. Godbey noted that although Alarcon Sanchez is young, his conduct was “incredibly dangerous” and warranted a significant term of imprisonment, the statement reads.
