A Virginia man was found guilty of an attempted mass shooting at a Haymarket church in the fall of 2023.
Rui Jiang, of Falls Church, was found guilty on all counts Thursday by a federal jury and will be sentenced on June 18.
Jiang was charged with attempting to obstruct the congregants of a church in the free exercise of their religious beliefs. The charge included that the defendant’s attempted act involved a dangerous weapon and an attempt to kill. Jiang also faced charges for transmitting online threats and a firearms violation.
Jiang targeted the rural church approximately 30 minutes from Washington, D.C. and went to a Sunday service armed with a semiautomatic handgun and two full magazines of ammunition intending to cause harm to the congregation. He had an additional 34 rounds of ammunition in his car.
According to evidence presented at trial, Jiang began posting online threats against the church on Sept. 23, 2023, which made clear his intention to kill congregants. On the morning of Sept. 24, 2023, police began searching for Jiang in response to a call about his posts.
Police officers located Jiang inside the front entrance to the church while Sunday services were under way. Church volunteers, independently concerned about Jiang’s behavior, had just approached Jiang when police arrived.
During a search of Jiang’s apartment, police discovered five copies of a letter, each signed by Jiang in ink, 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 (sic).”
Jiang was arrested by Prince William County police and has been in custody since the incident.
Jiang faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison.
Support AFP
Share
Crystal Graham
