A federal grand jury in Virginia has indicted Rui Jiang, 35, of Falls Church, for trying to disrupt non secular observe at Park Valley Church in Haymarket with a deliberate taking pictures. The fees, introduced by the U.S. Division of Justice, embody tried homicide with a harmful weapon, uttering threats and violating the Firearms Act.
Jiang's arrest on Sept. 24, 2023, adopted his on-line threats towards the church, which police recognized after a tip from a involved citizen, the Justice Division mentioned in an announcement about Jiang's indictment. Jiang, discovered on the church entrance with a semi-automatic handgun and two full magazines, was arrested throughout Sunday companies.
Brokers who searched his condo discovered letters of apology to the households of “the lads to be killed”, suggesting premeditated intent. “To the households of these males who’re to be killed – I’m sorry for what I’ve accomplished and am about to do.” Might your tears not be cried in useless however to rejoice how your family members lived,” it learn partially.
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The indictment carries a possible sentence of 5 years to life in jail. The case is being prosecuted by the Japanese District of Virginia with the involvement of the Justice Division's Civil Rights Division.
The Day by day Wire reported on Jiang's earlier interactions with regulation enforcement, noting that he was indicted earlier in February for making associated threats. An FBI affidavit included in court docket paperwork described Jiang's social media posts that contained derogatory remarks about God and the church, together with a photograph of a desecrated Bible and messages predicting retaliation towards authorities officers and churchgoers.
“Put the Bible on the ground subsequent to the lavatory. Now each time I p— I’ve to step on it. #f- God,” reads one of many posts.
“The officer seen a number of pictures 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 lavatory flooring, and threatening messages towards the church and the federal government,” the FBI studies. affidavit. “There have been additionally pictures of a silhouetted goal with bullet holes with the hashtag 'f-God' in addition to pictures from inside a white car parked at evening in a church parking zone.”
Regardless of the proof and his readiness to hold out the assault, Jiang denied in a police interview that he meant to hurt anybody and referred to as the scenario a misunderstanding. Nonetheless, a mixture of his on-line threats, found letters and his armed presence on the church led to critical allegations towards him.
The case towards Jiang is being prosecuted in federal court docket by Assistant US Attorneys Nicholas Durham and Troy A. Edwards Jr. and Lawyer Kyle Boynton.
