Man Who Brought Dangerous Weapon To Church Indicted By Grand Jury

HAYMARKET, VA — A 35-year-old Falls Church man faces a possible life sentence after a federal grand jury indicted him Wednesday for threatening members of a Haymarket church and bringing a dangerous weapon to a service there last September in an attempt to kill, according to court documents.

On the evening of Sept. 23, 2023, Rui Jiang began posting online threats against the Park Valley Church. The next morning, police searched Jiang's Falls Church apartment, after being altered to the posts by concerned members of the public.

Police found and detained Jiang outside the Park Valley Church, where Sunday services were taking place. At the time of his arrest, Jiang was armed with a loaded semiautomatic handgun and two full magazines of ammunition.

At Jiang's apartment, police found five copies of a letter, each signed, which read in part: “To the families of those men about to be slain — I am sorry for what I have done and about to do. May your tears not be cried in vain, but to celebrate how your loved ones had lived.”

The grand jury indicted Jiang for his attempted act involving a dangerous weapon and an attempt to kill. Additional charges included a threats count and a firearms violation, according to court documents. If Jiang is convicted on all counts, he faces a minimum of five years in prison and potential maximum penalty of life in prison.