A federal jury has found Rui Jiang of Falls Church, Virginia, guilty of attempting to obstruct the free exercise of religious beliefs by congregants at a church in Haymarket, Virginia. The charges against Jiang included using a dangerous weapon and attempting to kill. Additionally, he was convicted of transmitting online threats and a firearms violation.
The trial revealed that Jiang began posting threatening messages online on September 23, 2023, indicating his intent to harm church members. On the following day, police were alerted by a concerned citizen about these posts and located Jiang at the church during Sunday services. Volunteers had already approached him when law enforcement arrived. Jiang was found with a semiautomatic handgun and ammunition both on his person and in his car.
Further investigation led to the discovery of five signed letters in Jiang's apartment expressing remorse for his planned actions. He was arrested by Prince William County Police on September 24, 2023, and has remained in custody since then.
Jiang faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years imprisonment with a potential maximum sentence of life. His sentencing is scheduled for June 18, where a federal district court judge will consider various guidelines before determining the final sentence.
Deputy Assistant Attorney General Mac Warner from the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Erik S. Siebert for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Acting Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky from the FBI Washington Field Office announced the verdict.
The case was investigated by the FBI with support from Prince William County and Fairfax County Police Departments as well as assistance from Anne Arundel County Police Department. Prosecutors include Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas A. Durham and Troy A. Edwards Jr., along with Trial Attorney Kyle Boynton from the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section.