A Fairfax man who came terrifyingly close to carrying out a mass shooting at a Haymarket church will spend the next 25 years behind bars.
Rui Jiang, 36, was sentenced in federal court in Alexandria this week for his plot to kill churchgoers at Park Valley Church in September 2023. He was convicted in March on charges that included attempting a mass shooting, carrying a firearm during that attempt, and sending online threats.
Court documents revealed that Jiang posted a series of disturbing messages online on the night of September 23, making his violent intentions clear. The next morning, thanks to a tip from a concerned citizen, police found him at the church during Sunday services—armed with a semiautomatic handgun, two loaded magazines, and two knives. More weapons and bear spray were found in his car nearby.
When officers searched his Fairfax apartment, they discovered a chilling manifesto in which Jiang declared his intention to kill, referencing resentment toward men he believed were “blessed by God.”
Authorities say the situation could have been catastrophic if not for quick thinking by the community and fast action by law enforcement.
“This was the closest of calls,” said Harmeet Dhillon from the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “But for the determination of a concerned citizen… this would have ended in unimaginable tragedy.”
U.S. Attorney Erik Siebert emphasized that the right to worship without fear must be protected, calling Jiang’s actions a direct assault on that freedom.
Multiple police departments—Prince William, Fairfax, and Anne Arundel—worked with the FBI to prevent what could have been a mass casualty event.