Man Arrested With Handgun Outside Of Church Charged With Attempted Church Shooting

A 35-year-old man has been charged with attempting to shoot up a Virginia church after he allegedly posted threatening messages about the church online and showed up to the church on Sunday with a semi-automatic handgun and two loaded magazines.

Rui Jiang was charged by the Department of Justice on Thursday with attempted obstruction of free exercise of religious beliefs, use and carry of a firearm during a crime of violence, and making threats. Jiang was arrested on September 24, 2023, outside of the Park Valley Church in Haymarket, Virginia, allegedly carrying a handgun and two loaded magazines after a member of the church had alerted authorities about concerning social media posts threatening violence he had reportedly made.

Police searched Jiang’s apartment and say they found five copies of a letter indicating that men in the church would be targeted in the shooting. “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 letter said.

The letter indicated that Jiang was angry about not being able to get into a romantic relationship. He was previously charged in February over the alleged threats.

An affidavit in support of his arrest from an FBI agent who investigated the case included several of the social media posts that raised concerns and illustrated anger toward God and the church. The FBI spoke with police who had been alerted about the troubling social media posts. (Read more from “Man Arrested With Handgun Outside Of Church Charged With Attempted Church Shooting” HERE)