Home Virginia man planning mass shooting at church in Haymarket to serve 25 years
Public Safety, Virginia

Virginia man planning mass shooting at church in Haymarket to serve 25 years

Crystal Graham
Haymarket church mass shooting online predator
Photo: © Artwork Vector – Generated with AI/stock.adobe.com)

A Virginia man who attempted to carry out a mass shooting at a church in Haymarket was sentenced Wednesday to 25 years in prison and five years of supervised release.

Rui Jiang, 36, of Fairfax, was convicted by a jury in March for transmitting threats over the internet and carrying a gun during the attempt.

According to court records, Jiang began posting online threats to kill congregants of Park Valley Church on the evening of Sept. 23, 2023.

The next morning, police searched for Jiang in response to a concerned citizen’s call.

Officers located Jiang at the church while Sunday services were under way.

Jiang was armed with a semiautomatic handgun, two magazines of ammunition and two knives. He had additional ammunition, knives and a canister of bear spray in his nearby car.

During a search of Jiang’s apartment, police discovered copies of a manifesto, signed by Jiang, which read in part, “I am here deny (sic) the love lives blessed by God to these lucky men, by taking out these men . . .To the families of those men about to be slain – I am sorry for what I have done and about to do (sic).”

The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case with assistance from Prince William County and Fairfax County police departments.

Related story: Haymarket church shooting


Crystal Graham

Crystal Graham

Crystal Abbe Graham is the regional editor of Augusta Free Press. A 1999 graduate of Virginia Tech, she has worked for 25 years as a reporter and editor for several Virginia publications, written a book, and garnered more than a dozen Virginia Press Association awards for writing and graphic design. She was the co-host of "Viewpoints," a weekly TV news show, and co-host of Virginia Tonight, a nightly TV news show on PBS. Her work on "Virginia Tonight" earned her a national Telly award for excellence in television.