A person who tried to assault a Virginia church armed with a gun and a few knives has been convicted of a number of counts and is dealing with at the very least 5 years in jail, and even life.
A jury discovered Rui Jiang responsible on Thursday of costs that embrace trying to impede the congregants of a church within the free train of their beliefs, transmitting threats on-line and a firearms violation.
Jiang faces a compulsory minimal of 5 years in jail, however may very well be sentenced to life. A sentencing listening to is scheduled for June 18, in response to the USA Division of Justice.
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On Sept. 23, 2023, Jiang made a number of threats of violence on social media towards Park Valley Church of Falls Church. A Maryland resident noticed these posts and alerted authorities.
On the morning of Sept. 24, 2023, a Sunday, an off-duty police officer on the church found Jiang’s car on the property, as did different members of the congregation.
Church members detained Jiang till authorities arrived. When arrested, Jiang was discovered to be carrying a loaded legally bought handgun, an additional ammunition journal, and two knives.
In a assertion launched on the time, Fairfax County police stated they and different police departments “acted swiftly” and, because of this, “have been capable of cease a possible lively shooter.”
“For the reason that arrest, detectives from our Risk Evaluation Administration Unit have been assigned to help with the investigation,” native authorities stated on the time. “TAM detectives assisted with the execution of a search warrant at Jiang’s dwelling. Proof supporting Jiang’s intent to trigger hurt was recovered from the scene.”
In December 2023, the Prince William County Police Division introduced that it was including the cost of tried aggravated homicide to earlier costs of carrying a harmful weapon to a spot of worship and making threats of bodily hurt.
“The extra cost towards the accused […] stems from the continuing investigation and evaluation of digital proof obtained throughout the search warrant executed at his residence in Falls Church,” authorities said on the time.
“Based mostly upon the latest evaluation of the digital proof, bodily proof collected on the time, and the social media postings on accounts utilized by the accused depicting the church with threatening language, indications have been the accused meant to trigger hurt, damage, and dying to the church congregation.”
Jiang was indicted in March of 2024, with investigators discovering a notice that he had written to the households of his potential victims.
“To the households of these males about to be slain — I’m sorry for what I’ve achieved and about to do. Could your tears not be cried in useless, however to rejoice how your family members had lived,” learn the letter partially, as quoted by authorities.
Authorities additionally discovered proof of anti-religious sentiment, as seen with varied social media posts that Jiang had allegedly written earlier than the tried mass taking pictures.
