A person has been charged with making an attempt to shoot churchgoers at a Virginia church after allegedly posting threatening messages on-line and exhibiting up Sunday with a semi-automatic handgun and two loaded magazines.
Rui Jiang, 35, was charged by the Division of Justice final week with making an attempt to intrude with the free train of faith, utilizing and carrying a firearm in a violent crime and making threats.
Jiang was arrested in September 2023 exterior Park Valley Church in Haymarket, Virginia, allegedly carrying a handgun and two loaded magazines after a church member advised authorities about social media posts that threatened violence.
“To the households of these males who’re to be killed – I apologize for what I’ve achieved and am about to do. Might your tears not be cried in useless, however to have a good time how your family members lived,” learn a letter present in Jiang's condo.
Based on the Every day Wire, an affidavit by the FBI agent investigating the case included a number of social media posts that raised issues and illustrated anger towards God and the church.
The FBI reportedly spoke with police who had been alerted to the posts.
“The officer seen a number of photographs posted on the account, together with one in all a burning Bible in a pan on the range, one in all a Bible positioned on the toilet flooring, and threatening messages in opposition to the church and the federal government,” the FBI agent stated. she wrote in her affidavit. “There have been additionally photographs of a silhouetted goal with bullet holes with the hashtag 'Fk God', in addition to photographs from inside a white car parked at night time in a church automotive park.”
Jiang reportedly denied exhibiting up on the church on Sunday to hold out the assault throughout an interview with police.
“JIANG denied going to the Park Valley church to hurt anybody or himself,” the affidavit stated. “He admitted that he noticed how somebody may view his Instagram posts and emails associated to exhibiting up at church armed with a gun as 'scary' however believed it was a misunderstanding.
