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Suspect pleads guilty to having firearms at Richmond statue clash

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A man discovered with an assault rifle, a handgun and body armor following a confrontation with protestors at the Robert E. Lee statue in Virginia’s capital has been charged with a federal firearms violation.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia says 37-year-old Matthew Lee Frezza pleaded guilty Tuesday to possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon.

Richmond Police have said they saw several pickup trucks approach and exchange words with a group that had dismounted their bicycles near the statue in June.

Prosecutors said police later pulled the trucks over to discover Frezza in one with multiple guns, ammunition and body armor.

Fairfax County firefighters come home after assisting Colombia earthquake victims

Ten Fairfax County firefighters who are part of Virginia Task Force 1 returned late Thursday from helping coordinate a rescue effort after the devastating earthquake in Colombia. Family members greeted the team as they arrived in Chantilly Thursday night. A young girl held a sign that read "Welcome Home Daddy." For Andy Kassavetis, this was his first mission with Task Force 1, and seeing the devastation in Colombia put some things into perspective for him. He said he saw firsthand "how impactful an event can be on a community. It makes you think about, you know, really when you come home sharing the love with the people around you and letting them know you’re there with them, because things can change really quickly.”
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